SteamWorld Build

78%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,397 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • replayability
SteamWorld Build Game Cover
Great for both Citybuilder Noobs and Experts, SteamWorld Build offers a highly-replayable game with multiple maps and difficulties for players to take on.
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SteamWorld Build is a single-player Science Fiction 4X game with an intriguing story and wonderful gameplay. As you collect resources and build a new home to save your town, you'll encounter crotchety steamfolk and ancient tech. With stunning graphics, a good soundtrack, and the need for lots of grinding, this game will keep you engaged as you stare into the abyss and dig for riches. Join the SteamWorld Build Community on Discord for updates and support.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Cloud
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
  • Xbox Game Pass
  • x_box_cloud_gaming
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

78%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,397 reviews
gameplay109 positive mentions
replayability34 negative mentions
  • Charming art style and engaging gameplay that combines city building with dungeon exploration.
  • Relaxing and accessible for newcomers to the city-building genre, making it a great introduction.
  • Fun mechanics with a satisfying progression system, allowing players to manage resources and expand their town.
  • The game is relatively short, with a single playthrough lasting around 6-10 hours, leading to limited replayability.
  • Lacks depth and complexity compared to other city builders, making it feel simplistic and repetitive after a few runs.
  • The story is minimal and predictable, with little character development or meaningful narrative progression.
  • gameplay422 mentions

    The gameplay of this title combines city-building mechanics reminiscent of the Anno series with dungeon exploration and tower defense elements, creating a unique but somewhat simplistic experience. While the charming visuals and engaging core loop between managing a town and mining resources are praised, many players find the mechanics lack depth and replayability, with limited complexity and repetitive gameplay across different maps. Overall, it offers a casual and accessible experience, but may not satisfy those seeking a more challenging or varied gameplay experience.

    • “Anno production chain gameplay meets Dungeon Keeper, a surprisingly amazing combination of some of my favorite games.”
    • “You pick up on the mechanics quickly; they're just the right amount of complexity and fun.”
    • “Overflowing with charm like the rest of the SteamWorld universe, this game sets up a satisfying gameplay loop, with the transition between designing your city and mining for resources offering a nice variety.”
    • “It borders on disrespectful - there's practically no way of losing, the mechanics are deadly simplistic.”
    • “The gameplay is overly simplistic and lacks the tools to optimize or organize your city or mine effectively.”
    • “Unfortunately the game is quite simplistic and I can already see the gameplay loop.”
  • story391 mentions

    The story in this game is generally considered minimal and predictable, lacking depth and complexity, with many players noting that it can be completed in about 8-10 hours. While the characters are charming and fit well within their archetypes, the narrative is often described as straightforward and not particularly engaging, leading to a sense of disappointment regarding its brevity and lack of replayability. Overall, while the story provides a lighthearted backdrop to the gameplay, it does not significantly enhance the experience for those seeking a more substantial narrative.

    • “The story, while minimal, is driven by the strong characters.”
    • “It has an incredibly charming look and feel, solid mechanics and just enough story to explain the world.”
    • “The story expands on the SteamWorld universe without stepping on itself.”
    • “The unfortunate part is that there's just one storyline, and it's not beefy, and not interesting enough to want to keep playing.”
    • “The story is very simple and threadbare, and this is probably the least story-focused SteamWorld game since Tower Defense.”
    • “Was disappointed to find that the story was so short - I thought the different maps were different campaigns, but it's just the same story with slightly altered balancing/atmosphere.”
  • replayability157 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is considered low, with many reviewers noting that it can be completed in a short time frame (around 6-10 hours) and lacks meaningful content to encourage multiple playthroughs. While there are multiple maps and some procedural elements, these do not significantly enhance the experience or offer new challenges, leading to a consensus that the game feels repetitive after the initial run. Suggestions for improvement include adding more varied scenarios, customizable maps, and deeper gameplay mechanics to increase replay value.

    • “The collection of maps provides a great avenue for replayability, and there are some real bangers in the soundtrack.”
    • “Finally, with randomized mines and multiple maps, there is a decent amount of replay value.”
    • “Great for both city builder noobs and experts, SteamWorld Build offers a highly replayable game with multiple maps and difficulties for players to take on.”
    • “The only replayability is the multiple maps which even then aren't worth it; I wouldn't recommend the DLC as it adds annoying features along with rubies being a pain to get once you've cleared out the mines, resulting in being unable to purchase items from the train store or open certain vault doors. The story is also terrible with a twist villain that's obvious if you've played any other SteamWorld game.”
    • “It is a nice city builder/dungeon explorer, but it feels rather lacking and I see no replay value after completing the first map in ~6-7 hours.”
    • “Unfortunately, the replayability factor is quite low; after about 30 hours to complete all levels, there's little incentive to return.”
  • graphics144 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming, cartoonish art style that effectively captures the steampunk aesthetic, with detailed animations and a vibrant color palette. Players appreciate the consistent visual design and smooth performance, although some note that the maps can feel visually similar, potentially limiting replayability. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's appeal, enhancing the relaxing and engaging gameplay experience.

    • “The general visual design is top notch, and really sells the steampunkish aesthetic that SteamWorld prides itself on.”
    • “Lovely graphics and animations; overall, it captures the charm of the SteamWorld series.”
    • “The game boasts a fantastic setting, appealing graphics, and solid gameplay.”
    • “While the gameplay is enjoyable, it lacks depth, with maps and undergrounds feeling too similar despite varied visuals.”
    • “Different maps don't offer any variety (sure they have different visuals and different amounts of working space) and don't change gameplay in any meaningful term.”
    • “- visuals blend together - it's hard to tell houses or mining terrains apart (especially on Steam Deck!) - production buildings are better than homes yet everything is blended, except for a few cool things like maglev.”
  • music40 mentions

    The music in the game is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its chill and atmospheric qualities that enhance the overall experience. While some tracks are highlighted as standout pieces, there are mixed opinions regarding specific areas, such as the mines, where the music can become overshadowed by gameplay elements. Overall, the soundtrack complements the game's aesthetic and contributes positively to the relaxing city-building experience.

    • “The game’s soundtrack is also worth mentioning, as it perfectly complements the game’s overall aesthetic.”
    • “Beautiful art style, together with super chill music... just made me go peacefully into my build trance.”
    • “Further, there is no time pressure until very late in the game on higher difficulties, so the game is perfectly happy if you just want to hang out on the top side, decorating and tweaking your city, enjoying the nice soundtracks, and the wonderful seasonal theming the devs have added since launch.”
    • “By the time you reach the last mine, you will be constantly bombarded with notifications of monster attacks, to a point where I couldn't even hear the background music anymore when I was down there.”
    • “Music ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ - 6/10”
    • “The space western atmosphere is on point, with fun characters and a compelling narrative, but the chill soundtrack often gets drowned out by the chaos of gameplay.”
  • grinding39 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive, particularly in achieving 100% completion. While some enjoy the initial gameplay and city-building mechanics, they often feel that the lack of depth and the grind required for achievements detracts from the overall experience. Overall, players express frustration with the excessive grinding needed for resource collection and achievement completion, leading to a sense of monotony as they progress through the game.

    • “The lack of overview tools makes the city building portion extremely tedious, and the cave sections are extremely limited by massive turrets in confined spaces that pale in comparison to the effectiveness of just making a huge army of robot soldiers.”
    • “The only word I can use to describe this game is tedious.”
    • “You can play this for just one or two missions and be happy, but 100% achievement (35 hours for me) includes some stupid grindy achievements that have you build only road for about 20 minutes straight.”
  • humor16 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by its quirky storytelling and playful class-based jokes, reminiscent of shows like *Futurama*. Players appreciate the blend of creativity and humor within the narrative, which complements the game's unique atmosphere, although some feel that the lack of management tools detracts from the overall enjoyment. The option to disable cutscenes after the first playthrough is seen as a thoughtful feature by the developers.

    • “The story is quirky and funny.”
    • “Although it is a relatively quick game to get through, it packs a lot of creativity, humor, and beautiful art into a great introduction to both the genre of city builders and the SteamWorld series.”
    • “It’s equal parts Anno and Dungeon Keeper, with a touch of Futurama-esque robot humor.”
  • optimization13 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant performance issues and bugs, while others report smooth gameplay and high frame rates across multiple systems. Overall, the game's performance seems to vary widely among users, indicating inconsistent optimization.

    • “The game runs smoothly and I haven't noticed any bugs.”
    • “Love the game and it runs smoothly (maxed fps) on all of my PCs.”
    • “The game is pretty good, but has terrible optimization problems that I have been unable to fix on my computer.”
    • “A promising game spoiled by performance issues and wrong UX choices.”
    • “Frostpunk was all about production optimization.”
  • stability12 mentions

    Overall, the game demonstrates excellent stability, with users reporting minimal to no glitches or crashes. It runs smoothly and performs as intended, making it a reliable choice for players seeking a stress-free experience.

    • “It runs like butter; there are no glitches or bugs, and it plays the way it's supposed to, which is apparently a tough target to hit these days.”
    • “Game introduces new stuff and fun content in droves, it's also not a buggy mess.”
    • “No real gripes, no crashes or glitches.”
    • “It played smoothly with no glitches or crashes.”
  • atmosphere11 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its cute graphics, relaxing music, and engaging sound effects, creating a charming and immersive experience. Players appreciate the unique steamworld vibe and humor, although some express disappointment over the brevity of the story and the lack of management tools. Overall, the aesthetic and character design contribute to a compelling narrative and enjoyable gameplay.

    • “Cute and nice graphics, relaxing music, and atmospheric sound effects; well done.”
    • “The space western atmosphere is on point, with fun characters and a compelling narrative. Robust city-planning mechanics are rolled out at an even pace and intertwine well with the mines. Exploration and monster-slaying in the latter is also an interesting wrinkle. A great aesthetic, with detailed animations for citizens and buildings, backed by solid performance and a chill soundtrack.”
    • “Was disappointed to find that the story was so short - I thought the different maps were different campaigns, but it's just the same story with slightly altered balancing/atmosphere.”
    • “I enjoy the SteamWorld atmosphere and humor, but the lack of management tools really takes the fun out of it.”
    • “I figured I'd give it a shot and see if the charming SteamWorld atmosphere could help draw me into the genre.”
  • emotional8 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is described as somewhat touching for those who connect with the story, offering a fun and wholesome experience. However, some players feel that it lacks depth and emotional impact, suggesting that it could benefit from further development in this area. Overall, it is seen as a relaxing city builder with moments of emotional resonance.

    • “If you play the story, it is a bit touching, if you feel emotions.”
    • “Congratulations to the team for delivering another fun, relaxing, and wholesome experience.”
    • “Very fun and wholesome city builder.”
  • character development4 mentions

    Character development in the game is described as simple yet charming, complemented by great art and voice lines. However, many users feel that it falls short, citing a lack of depth and dialogue that detracts from the overall experience.

    • “Great art style, good voice lines, simple but sweet character development and storyline.”
    • “Unfortunately, what is usually a strength for the series is one of the biggest downsides to this installment; it feels like there's very little character development or dialogue at all.”
    • “Unfortunately, what is usually a strength for the series is one of the biggest downsides to this installment; it feels like there's very little character development or dialogue at all.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

78% average critic score

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Play time

10hMedian play time
12hAverage play time
3-24hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 20 analyzed playthroughs

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