SteamWorld Dig

About

SteamWorld Dig is a platform mining adventure game set in a steampunk-inspired world. As Rusty, a lone steam-powered robot, you'll dig deep into the earth in search of riches and WHAT HIDES IN THE DARK. Uncover ancient secrets, defeat enemies, and upgrade your equipment to reach new depths. Your goal: to solve the mystery of the town's origin.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 5,265 reviews

gameplay461 positive mentions

grinding106 negative mentions

Charming art style and engaging visuals that enhance the gameplay experience.
Addictive gameplay loop of digging, collecting resources, and upgrading equipment.
Well-paced progression with new abilities and upgrades introduced regularly.

Short playtime, typically around 4-6 hours, which may leave players wanting more.
Limited enemy variety and combat mechanics that can feel repetitive.
The final boss fight is underwhelming and lacks challenge compared to the rest of the game.

gameplay
1,046 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
52%
4%
The gameplay of "SteamWorld Dig" is characterized by a simple yet addictive loop of digging, collecting resources, upgrading equipment, and exploring, which keeps players engaged despite its relatively short runtime of around 4-6 hours. While the mechanics are easy to grasp and the game introduces new abilities at a steady pace, some players find the gameplay repetitive and lacking in depth as they progress. Overall, the charming aesthetics and satisfying mechanics make it a fun experience, particularly for fans of the mining and metroidvania genres.
- “For those seeking a captivating blend of mining and exploration, Steamworld Dig is a standout title that offers a charming aesthetic and satisfying gameplay loop.”
- “The gameplay loop of digging, returning to town to resupply/upgrade and then return to digging is so satisfying and rewarding.”
- “The gameplay is engaging, and just as you start feeling like you could use something to bump up your mining efficiency, the game introduces another mechanic to do just that.”
- “The gameplay loop is too repetitive without being addictive enough to keep you motivated for hours: dig, hit monotonous enemies, sell stuff, buy upgrades, repeat.”
- “Steamworld dig is short, easy, and far too simple for my taste with a gameplay hook that does not change meaningfully enough as you progress deeper into the mines.”
- “The gameplay leaves a bit to be desired, though.”
story
710 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
60%
4%
The story in "SteamWorld Dig" is generally described as simple and straightforward, serving primarily as a backdrop for the gameplay rather than a central focus. While some players appreciate the charming characters and engaging plot twists, many note that the narrative is relatively short and lacks depth, often leaving them wanting more. Overall, the game offers a light but enjoyable story that complements its mining and exploration mechanics, making it a fun experience despite its brevity.
- “It's a low-cost, low-risk game with a rich, tightly-woven story that beautifully blends wild west aesthetics with the steampunk genre.”
- “Overall, 'Steamworld Dig' is a compact yet rich experience that offers a unique take on the mining genre with its engaging gameplay mechanics, appealing art style, and intriguing storyline.”
- “The story is mysterious enough to keep you digging until the end to discover what lies beneath.”
- “There's barely any story here.”
- “The story itself is quite lacking, and the sequel SteamWorld Dig 2 would really pick up on this flaw.”
- “Not so with this game, this is probably the worst one story-wise and character-wise of the series.”
graphics
612 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
36%
2%
The graphics of "SteamWorld Dig" are widely praised for their charming, cartoonish art style that effectively blends steampunk and western aesthetics, creating a visually appealing experience. Players appreciate the vibrant colors, smooth animations, and detailed sprite work, which contribute to an immersive atmosphere. While some critiques mention the simplicity of the graphics, the overall consensus is that they enhance the gameplay and complement the engaging mechanics, making it a visually delightful title.
- “The hand-drawn visuals are a visual treat, immersing you in a vibrant steampunk world filled with intricate details.”
- “The graphics showcase a unique and detailed style, with the atmosphere changing as you descend deeper into the mine, providing excellent visual immersion.”
- “The graphics are colorful, sharp, and charming and look great on higher resolutions.”
- “The graphics seem repetitive.”
- “Steamworld dig is a simple game with simple graphics and a basic core gameplay loop.”
- “The art style is boring and the game can get a little repetitive considering you mine minerals to get better equipment to mine even more minerals.”
music
380 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
41%
2%
The music in "SteamWorld Dig" has received widespread acclaim for its captivating and well-composed soundtrack, which effectively complements the game's steampunk and western aesthetics. Many players appreciate the atmospheric quality of the music, noting its ability to enhance the immersive experience, although some mention that it can become repetitive over time. Overall, the soundtrack is considered one of the game's standout features, contributing significantly to its charm and enjoyment.
- “The visuals are charming, and the soundtrack complements the atmosphere perfectly, creating an immersive experience that draws you into its world.”
- “The music is very fitting as it feels like a western film from the 1960s.”
- “With its catchy wild west soundtrack and rustic good looks, SteamWorld Dig saunters onto PlayStation platforms with confidence.”
- “There's no music for the underground biome that I can recall, or if there was it wasn't good or noticeable.”
- “The music is decent but I wouldn't say catchy.”
- “So not only is digging tedious, it has super repetitive music.”
replayability
209 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
53%
23%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players noting its short playtime of around 5-6 hours and a linear structure that limits replay value. While some appreciate the procedural generation and achievement systems that encourage multiple playthroughs, others feel that the lack of depth and new game modes significantly detracts from its long-term appeal. Overall, it offers some replayability, particularly for speedrunners and completionists, but many agree it could benefit from additional content or features to enhance replay value.
- “Taking only a few hours to complete the main story with tons of upgrades to earn and work through, there’s more than enough replayability here.”
- “The randomly-generated nature of the mines means that there is quite a lot of replay value to be had with this game.”
- “It's fun, eerie, strategic, in-depth, replayable, and overall a very good and polished game.”
- “There is no replayability.”
- “Not much replayability and won't last more than a few hours, but considering that the gameplay/content/map is a bit lacking at times, it's not a bad thing.”
- “Once the game is over there isn't much replayability which saddens me because I really do enjoy the feel of the game.”
grinding
122 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
5%
87%
The grinding aspect of the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it tedious and repetitive, particularly due to resource management and the need for frequent backtracking. Others appreciate the balance of upgrades and the engaging puzzle elements that mitigate the grind, making it enjoyable for those who like mining and resource collection. Overall, while some players may find the grinding excessive and boring, others see it as a fun and integral part of the gameplay experience.
- “Upgrades to your character come pretty quickly, there's no grinding as such.”
- “Most enjoyable I've played in a long time, and it's not grindy at all, but I would have liked it if it was longer. Can't wait for SteamWorld Dig 2.”
- “New skills and new enemies are placed evenly on your path to the endgame - there are no tedious or boring streaks except for the final boss.”
- “The beginning is really fun, but once ore loses its value, it's just tedious busywork.”
- “The game is extremely grindy, like a 2D Minecraft without crafting or building.”
- “It's about the most boring and tedious game I've ever played.”
atmosphere
100 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
39%
3%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its charming visuals, engaging sound design, and immersive soundtrack that perfectly complements the western steampunk theme. Players appreciate the rich personality of the world, with its colorful characters and beautifully designed environments, creating a captivating experience that enhances gameplay. Overall, the combination of art style, music, and sound effects contributes to a unique and atmospheric adventure that draws players in from the start.
- “The visuals are charming, and the soundtrack complements the atmosphere perfectly, creating an immersive experience that draws you into its world.”
- “The atmosphere and art style of SteamWorld Dig is really beautiful.”
- “This game oozes charm, personality, and atmosphere.”
- “The whole package - the artwork and music and atmosphere - is fine enough, but this does not bring the level of complexity or open-worldness that is fairly standard with games like this.”
- “About the theme, my review could be biased as I like the steampunk themed games, but in my opinion Steamworld fulfills very well in creating a decadent atmosphere and a rusty-like life.”
- “It's very calming and quiet in its atmosphere and gameplay.”
humor
80 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in "SteamWorld Dig" is widely praised for its charm and wit, featuring hilarious characters and clever dialogue that keeps players entertained throughout the game. Many reviewers highlight the quirky NPCs, playful hints about the game's lore, and the amusing mechanical voices of the robots, all contributing to a lighthearted and enjoyable experience. Overall, the game successfully blends humor with engaging gameplay, making it a standout title for fans of comedic storytelling.
- “The characters in SteamWorld Dig are hilarious, from the grumpy old prospector to the sassy bar owner.”
- “The dialogue is witty and will keep you chuckling throughout the game.”
- “It's got a lot of charm, style, and some silly humor.”
character development
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
26%
7%
Character development in the game is primarily achieved through purchasing power-ups, enhancing gameplay and providing a sense of progression. While the character designs are praised for their charm and distinctiveness, some reviews note that the writing lacks depth, which detracts from the overall experience. The game's engaging atmosphere and aesthetic, particularly its western/steampunk style, complement the character development, making it a fun and visually appealing platformer.
- “Engaging gameplay with a nice difficulty curve, and I loved the western/steampunk aesthetic, the character designs, and the story.”
- “It's wonderful, casual play with a cute little storyline, wonderful character design, and solid animation.”
- “Best 'non AAA' game this year! I love that the game has not just random/procedural levels and also has cool character development (skills) in it (RPG-like).”
- “Character designs are full of charm, but are let down by some very flat writing.”
- “The character designs are great, though sadly you'll be looking at wads of dirt 90% of the game.”
stability
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
13%
75%
Overall, the game's stability is mixed among users; while many report no graphical or audio glitches and a solid performance, some express frustration with bugs and a lack of polish. Players who experienced the game later in its lifecycle generally found it stable and enjoyable, particularly on Linux, while others felt it was a buggy experience not worth the price.
- “No glitches.”
- “Lots of fun, runs great on Linux.”
- “Buggy pile of a game; not worth the dollar I spent.”
- “It's not bad, or buggy, just very meh.”
- “Overall it's a solid game, I did not run into any glitches or bugs but since I got it almost two years after it came out I am not surprised.”
optimization
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
42%
25%
The optimization of SteamWorld Dig is highly praised, particularly on the PC version, which offers improved 1080p graphics and smooth performance without any noticeable hiccups or bugs. Users report a seamless experience on the Steam Deck, highlighting its support for controller functionality and additional features like achievements and trading cards. Overall, the game runs efficiently across platforms, enhancing the gameplay experience.
- “The PC version is better than the 3DS version performance-wise, with improved 1080p graphics, controller support, achievements, and trading cards.”
- “+ runs smoothly on my rig.”
- “+ runs smoothly, no performance hiccups or bugs to be found.”
- “This game is listed as 'supported' but here is my Steam Deck performance feedback after spending over 23 hours and getting 100% of the achievements.”
- “The PC version is better than the 3DS version performance-wise, and the 3DS version was already awesome, with improved 1080p graphics, controller support, achievements, and trading cards.”
- “At the end, you’re given an evaluation for your performance, such as how long you took or how many times you died.”
emotional
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the game to be a heartwarming adventure, particularly appreciating the emotional depth of Rusty's relationships with the inhabitants of Tumbleton and his journey of self-discovery. The gameplay mechanics, such as creating tunnels and teleporters, enhance the emotional connection by fostering a sense of familiarity and investment in the game's world.
- “Highly recommend this heartwarming adventure!”
- “Rusty's relationship with the inhabitants of Tumbleton and the discovery of his past create an emotional journey that resonates with players.”
- “The ability to work your way through the levels and create your own system of tunnels, teleporters, and pathways is a cool concept that made me feel incredibly familiar with the potentially complex maps.”