SteamWorld Dig 2

91%
Game Brain Score Based on 2,354 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • graphics
SteamWorld Dig 2 Game Cover
A game that digs right to the center of your heart.
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SteamWorld Dig 2 is a Metroidvania-style platformer with puzzle-solving elements. As Dorothy, a steambot miner, you dig deep into the earth to uncover its secrets while battling enemies mix of charming characters, clever writing, and tight gameplay make this a must-play for fans of the genre. The game features beautiful pixel art and animation, along with atmospheric music. Dorothy's quest is filled with surprises, treasure, and numerous upgrades to discover.

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Linux
  • Nintendo 3ds
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station Vita
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

91%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,354 reviews
gameplay240 positive mentions
grinding35 negative mentions
  • Improves upon the original in every way, with better graphics, more upgrades, and a more engaging story.
  • Addictive gameplay loop of mining, upgrading, and exploring, with plenty of secrets to discover.
  • Charming characters and vibrant art style, creating a delightful atmosphere throughout the game.
  • Short playtime, typically around 6-10 hours, which may leave some players wanting more.
  • Combat can feel simplistic and lacks depth, with only a few boss fights that are not particularly challenging.
  • Some players may find the game too easy, especially with the abundance of upgrades and abilities that trivialize challenges.
  • gameplay560 mentions

    The gameplay in "Steamworld Dig 2" is widely praised for its addictive loop of exploration, resource collection, and upgrades, building on the solid foundation of its predecessor while introducing new mechanics and a more expansive metroidvania structure. Players appreciate the smooth controls, engaging puzzles, and the variety of tools that enhance the experience, although some note that the core gameplay can feel repetitive over time. Overall, the game is recognized for its polished mechanics, vibrant visuals, and satisfying progression, making it a compelling choice for fans of the genre.

    • “The gameplay loop of digging, collecting resources, and then returning to the surface to sell resources and buy upgrades is excellent for short gaming sessions.”
    • “Steamworld Dig 2 is a beautiful collection of movement mechanics, each more fun than the last.”
    • “The gameplay is fun and smooth, with a satisfying progression that keeps you engaged throughout.”
    • “Gameplay-wise, the content is quite similar to the first game.”
    • “I can't recommend this game if the main gameplay loop can be summarized as 'motherload, but like, 10 times one after the other'.”
    • “All the backtracking just to sell gems, and not even have enough gems to buy something, then having to search around while your light goes out... it's just too much repetitive boring gameplay.”
  • story535 mentions

    The story of "SteamWorld Dig 2" is a continuation of its predecessor, following the protagonist Dorothy as she searches for her missing friend Rusty. While the narrative is generally considered simple and predictable, it is enhanced by charming characters and engaging dialogue, making it enjoyable despite some critiques of its abrupt ending and lack of depth. Many players recommend experiencing the first game to fully appreciate the story's context and character connections.

    • “The story is a continuation from SteamWorld Dig, in which Dorothy McCrank searches for Rusty, the protagonist of the original SteamWorld Dig game, and befriends Fen, a gleefully malicious Vectron sprite, in her quest to locate Rusty.”
    • “The story was surprisingly engaging, with charming characters that give a clear motivation.”
    • “The story unfolds nicely, and is great too, with a nice blend of cute and serious moments.”
    • “The story is very hamfisted (like many of their other SteamWorld games), but the gameplay really sings here.”
    • “The story ends abruptly; the combat is still weak, and a couple of extra boss fights to shake things up would've been nice.”
    • “The story is simple but well told, and you don't need to play the first game to figure out what is going on.”
  • graphics265 mentions

    The graphics of "SteamWorld Dig 2" have received widespread acclaim for their vibrant and charming art style, which enhances the game's steampunk aesthetic. Many reviewers noted significant improvements over the first game, highlighting the polished animations, colorful visuals, and overall visual appeal that contribute to an engaging gameplay experience. The combination of beautiful artwork and a captivating soundtrack creates a delightful atmosphere that resonates well with players.

    • “Featuring beautiful artwork, entrancing soundtrack, warm characters, absorbent world, snappy controls, and surprising secrets.”
    • “The graphics, animations, and music are charming and easy on the eyes.”
    • “The art style is gorgeous and unique, the gameplay can seemingly get repetitive at first, and even in concept, up until you realize how well the pacing of the game is.”
    • “Better in every way (except graphics) than the first one.”
    • “Too short for the price point and graphics.”
    • “The town is way too busy graphically.”
  • music261 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread praise for its variety and quality, with many reviewers highlighting the catchy and atmospheric soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. While some players noted that certain tracks can become repetitive over time, the majority found the music to be a standout feature, complementing the game's visuals and gameplay effectively. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a significant improvement over the previous installment, contributing to the game's charm and immersive atmosphere.

    • “The soundtrack is fantastic as well.”
    • “The music is catchy and energetic, with some righteous beats in a couple zones that had me bobbing my head while I whacked away at the walls.”
    • “The soundtrack really is amazing; they went above and beyond to bring us this music.”
    • “The music became extremely annoying after a few hours, and ambient sounds were pretty basic, almost 8-bit in character at times.”
    • “I understand wanting to mix a bunch of styles because it's a robot western, but most of the soundtrack felt stale to me.”
    • “Oh, I muted the music because the town music was horribly annoying.”
  • replayability47 mentions

    The reviews present a mixed perspective on replayability, with some players noting a lack of significant replay value, while others highlight features like upgrades, collectibles, and achievements that enhance replayability. Many agree that the game is enjoyable and well-crafted, but its relatively short length and limited content may deter players from multiple playthroughs, unless they are completionists or achievement hunters. Overall, while some find replayability in exploration and challenges, others feel the game is more of a one-time experience.

    • “It also has more secrets, more areas to explore, a lot more upgrades, a weapon mod system that gives it more replay value, a deeper story, and hand-drawn sprite work that's twice as awesome as the first game's.”
    • “SteamWorld Dig 2 doesn't wear out its welcome; it knows right when to give you new abilities and is just the right length with plenty of replayability to find everything.”
    • “It is concise and respects your time and skill, but has an amazing amount of replayability and collectible-hunting if desired.”
    • “It also has no replay value whatsoever.”
    • “To the point that I just didn't care to bother with even a second attempt, and once you have collected everything, there is really no replay value at all.”
    • “I find them very charming but they all suffer from the same problem, no real replay value.”
  • grinding42 mentions

    Overall, player feedback on grinding in the game is mixed; many find it tedious, boring, and overly time-consuming, often feeling that it detracts from the enjoyment of the gameplay. However, some players appreciate the balance of grinding with progression, noting that upgrades and customization can alleviate the grind, making it less of a chore. While some aspects of the game may require grinding for resources or upgrades, others feel that the experience remains engaging and not excessively grind-heavy.

    • “Metroidvanias are about discovering new, game-changing methods to traverse the environment, not grinding for cash (resources serve no purpose other than trading for cash) and paying to shoot a grenade just a little farther.”
    • “One thing I really liked about the first is that it didn't overstay its welcome - that is, there is no grinding and each moment of playing both SteamWorld Dig games feels new, original, and not like repetitive/lazy copy-pasting - quite a task for a game about continuously digging down to sell gems and repeat.”
    • “It is boring, tedious, predictable, and just not worth the time to play it.”
    • “The character progression is mostly based around grinding for cash and paying for minor upgrades once you've acquired the basic tools, which happens very early on.”
    • “All in all, it's not really rewarding, no real combat, clearly visible secrets... it's just grinding and exploration, and if you consider using a guide, the game will turn out to be a to-do checklist, with music and graphics.”
  • atmosphere40 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its vibrant visuals, engaging sound design, and nostalgic charm, creating a relaxing and immersive experience. Players appreciate the combination of art style, music, and gameplay that evokes a sense of exploration and adventure, reminiscent of classic titles. While most reviews highlight the game's strong atmospheric elements, a few note that some areas feel similar, slightly detracting from the overall experience.

    • “The return to Vectron in particular oozes with atmosphere and is a huge treat to explore.”
    • “The art style and atmosphere are great; the graphics are colorful and the music is atmospheric and fits the tone of the game.”
    • “Tons of secrets are everywhere, opportunities for sequence breaking are abundant, the atmosphere (read: art design and music) are top notch, the difficulty curve is just right.”
    • “They almost get it right here but I find the atmosphere lacking and each area plays very similarly except they just change the color palettes to red for the lava world and green for the poison world.”
    • “The sound design complements the visuals well, featuring a catchy soundtrack and charming sound effects that enhance the overall atmosphere.”
    • “One of my favorite things about the SteamWorld universe is its deceptively childlike atmosphere.”
  • humor37 mentions

    The humor in the game is a mix of silly and quirky elements, with many players appreciating the funny dialogues, humorous NPCs, and amusing artifact descriptions. While some found the humor to be less prevalent than expected and occasionally cliche, others enjoyed the lighthearted tone and engaging character interactions that added charm to the gameplay. Overall, the humor complements the adventurous and exploratory aspects of the game, making it a delightful experience for fans of the genre.

    • “The story, a continuation from SteamWorld Dig, is funny with the occasional heartwarming scene.”
    • “Add in a great story and a bunch of funny dialogue in between digging, even better.”
    • “The story and its characters are humorous and quirky.”
  • character development14 mentions

    Character development in the game is generally viewed as lacking depth, with some reviews noting it as minimal or not particularly memorable. However, there are positive mentions of character design and presentation, which enhance the overall charm and engagement of the game. A few reviews highlight improvements in character development, particularly in sequels, suggesting a more thoughtful approach to storytelling and character arcs.

    • “The character development is well built and allows you to fit your own play style.”
    • “The story is more engaging and better character development.”
    • “Between the clear thought and polish that have gone into mechanical gameplay concerns, the creative environment and character design, and the story and dialogue which have clearly been written by actual writers, this title is a clear standout against the flood of samey, uninspired drek which we on Steam are drowning in at present.”
    • “The plot and character development are nothing to write home about.”
    • “While short on story or much character development, SteamWorld Dig 2 manages to get by on its charm alone.”
    • “Small character development but ok.”
  • emotional12 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its blend of humor and heartwarming moments, with some players experiencing deep emotional connections, particularly during the impactful ending. While some felt detached from the main character, many praised the expanded plot and touching scenes that evoke strong feelings, leading to moments of sadness and joy. Overall, the game is described as both wholesome and engaging, enhancing the emotional experience compared to its predecessor.

    • “Phenomenal game, emotional ending.”
    • “It really does improve upon all of the weak parts of SteamWorld Dig 1 while keeping a similar charm and then adding way more plot and an ending that made me cry.”
    • “If you enjoyed the first game, you'll like this one even more; there's an expanded plot with a real emotional core, the gameplay is built on the solid foundation of the first game with some much-needed improvements, and the level design is fantastic and satisfying.”
  • optimization8 mentions

    The game is highly praised for its optimization, running smoothly on various systems, including Linux and lower-end hardware like Intel Haswell graphics, with users reporting consistent performance and high frame rates. While some players experienced occasional stuttering, this was generally attributed to specific hardware configurations rather than overall optimization issues. Overall, the game is considered well-optimized and playable on a wide range of machines.

    • “This is a great mining game with a good story, great world design, fantastic mechanics, and top performance.”
    • “Linux performance is also perfect.”
    • “I was very happy with the performance of the game on my Intel Haswell graphics with Mesa drivers. I didn't even have to switch to my NVIDIA; I was getting constant 40+ FPS on my Intel Haswell setup with all settings high.”
    • “Occasional stuttering, but that was probably because I decided to play it on an iGPU to see if it could run smoothly, and I loved the experience of a low resolution on that game.”
    • “Could use a couple of patches to fix that weird stuttering issue.”
    • “Manage 3D settings -> preferred graphics processor -> high-performance NVIDIA processor.”
  • stability4 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is praised by many users for its smooth performance and lack of glitches, particularly on the Steam Deck. However, there are contrasting opinions, with some players experiencing significant bugs and issues, indicating a mixed reception regarding stability.

    • “Runs great on Steam Deck.”
    • “The game is supremely well made with no glitches or broken mechanics.”
    • “Buggy mess.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

87% average critic score

Buy SteamWorld Dig 2

Play time

10hMedian play time
10hAverage play time
7hMain story
13hCompletionist
8-13hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 32 analyzed playthroughs

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