SteamWorld Heist

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SteamWorld Heist is a turn-based strategy game with tactical space battles. As Captain Piper Faraday, you'll recruit a ragtag crew to explore and battle through procedurally generated ships. With a unique steampunk aesthetic and challenging gameplay, SteamWorld Heist offers a refreshing take on the strategy genre.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 400 reviews

story30 positive mentions

grinding12 negative mentions

Engaging turn-based combat with a unique manual aiming mechanic that adds depth and strategy.
Charming art style and humor, complemented by a fantastic soundtrack from Steam Powered Giraffe.
Variety of characters and weapons, allowing for different playstyles and replayability.

Some players find the game repetitive, especially towards the end, with a lack of significant narrative depth.
Difficulty spikes can be frustrating, particularly in later missions where enemy placement can feel random.
Limited inventory space can hinder gameplay, forcing players to make tough decisions about equipment.

story
114 mentions
26 % positive mentions
71 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally described as charming and light-hearted, serving primarily to facilitate gameplay rather than provide deep narrative depth. While some players appreciate the unique characters and humor, many find the plot simplistic and not particularly memorable, often overshadowed by the engaging gameplay mechanics and tactical elements. Overall, the story is enjoyable but not the main draw of the game, with players often recommending it for its fun mechanics rather than its narrative.
- “The story is cute and fun, and the band that plays in the bars and at the end of every boss does a great job making things catchy and memorable.”
- “An awesome story full of wonderful characters, awesome combat system and it also has Steam Powered Giraffe doing the soundtrack!”
- “Beautifully animated, engaging story and fun gameplay.”
- “The story was silly by design and served to facilitate the gameplay; I really wouldn't recommend the game based on its story.”
- “The story is very simple, and I found myself zoning out all the time.”
- “The game is a bit lacking on story, being its worst part.”
gameplay
110 mentions
55 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its tight mechanics and engaging turn-based strategy elements, reminiscent of XCOM but presented in a 2D format without base management. Players appreciate the blend of tactical depth, character variety, and unique mechanics like ricocheting bullets, which contribute to both casual and challenging experiences. While the game offers a fun and replayable experience, some players noted issues with balance and repetitiveness in later stages.
- “Incredibly tight gameplay, fun RPG elements, really enjoyable characters, and a ton of replayability.”
- “The gameplay is quick and the challenges are fun, though I thank the game devs for including a game mode specifically for people like me: absolute noobs.”
- “Very engaging game: mechanically, its core gameplay is pretty straightforward (move, aim, shoot), but there's added layers of weapons and character variety, tactics (ricochets, character placement, headshots, hatshots) and extra difficulty (mission objectives, countdowns, enemy spawns, etc.) to keep the game interesting.”
- “The gameplay is streamlined to combat like XCOM, but in two dimensions and no base management.”
- “It's a pretty unique experience, but you can tell it was developed for mobile platforms - it simply doesn't have the depth that you'd expect from a PC game, in terms of both story and gameplay.”
- “Gameplay in this gets very samey, and the difficulties don't feel super well balanced.”
music
81 mentions
64 % positive mentions
32 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, particularly for its engaging soundtrack by Steam Powered Giraffe, which enhances the game's atmosphere and complements its quirky visuals and gameplay. Many players highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, with some describing it as one of the best they've experienced in gaming. However, a few critiques mention repetitive battle music and a desire for more varied tracks, though overall, the music is considered a significant asset to the game's charm and enjoyment.
- “The soundtrack is absolutely gorgeous and matches the game perfectly (but that might be because Steam Powered Giraffe is my favorite band).”
- “This game is very well put together, comes with a great story and art style, and the soundtrack is amazing.”
- “The music is fantastic!”
- “The biggest letdown, though, is the music.”
- “Meanwhile, all battles feature the same obnoxious 45-second loop of some generic ditty (not by SPG) that will cause you to just mute the music altogether.”
- “The repetitive music emphasizes this tediousness.”
graphics
47 mentions
70 % positive mentions
23 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful, hand-drawn art style and vibrant colors, which enhance the overall aesthetic and gameplay experience. Reviewers appreciate the cohesive visual presentation and charming character designs, noting that the graphics effectively complement the game's mechanics and atmosphere. Overall, the visuals are described as attractive and polished, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
- “The visuals are gorgeous and the SteamWorld franchise is worth getting.”
- “Graphics are attractive, have a well-defined and cohesive style, and work exceptionally well for the style of play.”
- “SteamWorld Heist is beautifully presented with warm, vibrant graphics, punchy sound effects, and a wholesome soundtrack.”
- “SteamWorld Heist is beautifully presented with warm, vibrant graphics, punchy sound effects, and a wholesome soundtrack, but overall the universe and characters are really, really bland, like wallpaper over a game's systems.”
- “Aesthetically, it looked like charming, polished casual schlock which I do enjoy at times, so I bought it thinking it would be short and easy.”
- “Don't let the visuals fool you - and don't not enjoy them if they're totally your thing!”
humor
18 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its charm and wit, enhancing the overall experience with funny characters, clever dialogue, and quirky elements like hat collecting. Players appreciate the lighthearted tone and delightful design, which contribute to a fun and engaging gameplay loop. Overall, the humor serves as a significant draw, making the game enjoyable and replayable.
- “Humor is the icing on the cake.”
- “The design and humor are delightful.”
- “I loved the small quirks of this game, its obsession with collecting hats, the musical pieces from Steampunk Giraffe, and the humorous item descriptions scream that this was a game made with love.”
grinding
13 mentions
23 % positive mentions
-15 % neutral mentions
92 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding in the game to be a mixed experience; while some enjoy the replayability and fun of leveling up characters and acquiring new weapons, others feel it becomes tedious and necessary for maintaining a competitive squad. The long animation cycles and repetitive gameplay contribute to the grind's perceived monotony, leading to a sense of frustration for those seeking more variation. Overall, the grinding aspect is seen as both a fun and a tedious element, depending on individual player preferences.
- “The grinding aspect of the game can be quite extensive, requiring 60 to 100 hours to fully experience everything it has to offer.”
- “While the grind can be time-consuming, it adds a rewarding layer to the gameplay that keeps you engaged.”
- “I appreciate how the grinding mechanics encourage exploration and mastery of the game, making every hour spent feel worthwhile.”
- “Requires grinding if you want to keep more than your regular four characters current or you want some of the better drops.”
- “However, this grinding soon becomes a necessity and then somewhat tedious, if you want a moderately full squad at max level.”
- “The grinding mechanics probably would have been okay if the gameplay had more variation.”
replayability
12 mentions
25 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
25 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag; while many players appreciate the tight gameplay, RPG elements, and character variety that encourage multiple playthroughs, others find the procedurally generated levels can become repetitive, limiting long-term engagement. Some players enjoy experimenting with different team compositions and higher difficulty settings, but others feel that once a solid team is established, the incentive to replay diminishes. Ultimately, the game offers decent replay value, particularly for those seeking a challenge, but may not hold the same appeal for everyone.
- “Incredibly tight gameplay, fun RPG elements, really enjoyable characters, and a ton of replayability.”
- “4.2 which means a lot of replayability - because you failed, because you failed again, or just want to try out your newly recruited crew member.”
- “A solid tactical game with lots of replay value and graphical polish.”
- “I'll probably go back to play this game on higher difficulties in the next months or the next year, as despite its abundance in different difficulties, it's not all that replayable. The level design being randomly generated for most missions makes only the boss arena memorable, but it does help in giving character to the different factions.”
- “For some players, I don't imagine you would play this more than once; while fun and challenging, it's not very deep. The replayability comes with the mixing and matching of the team lineup, but once you get a good team, you probably will stick with it in that one playthrough.”
- “My only critique is that replayability is somewhat low, given that the procedurally generated levels still manage to start feeling a bit samey by the end of the campaign.”
atmosphere
6 mentions
83 % positive mentions
-33 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its epic and engaging qualities, enhanced by a unique blend of steampunk-inspired music and visuals that create a captivating experience. Players appreciate the laid-back yet challenging environment, which is complemented by a compelling story and enjoyable elements like fashion hats. Overall, the combination of music and atmosphere significantly contributes to the game's appeal.
- “But it is the music and atmosphere that make me stay.”
- “Steam Powered Giraffe made amazing music that adds to the fun western atmosphere.”
- “Very enjoyable game with a laid-back, feel-good atmosphere, yet difficult enough to be engaging.”
- “The atmosphere feels lifeless and uninspired, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “Despite the potential, the atmosphere lacks depth and fails to immerse the player.”
- “The game’s atmosphere is dull and repetitive, which detracts from the overall experience.”
character development
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
While the game features engaging character designs and enjoyable companions, reviewers note a lack of substantial character development, leaving players wanting more depth in the characters' growth and backstories.
- “The character designs are cartoonish and full of personality, which adds a unique charm to the game.”
- “The companions are fun to find, but there isn't any real character development.”
stability
2 mentions
150 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
150 % negative mentions
Overall, users report a stable experience with no significant bugs or glitches, although some mention occasional issues with hit box accuracy.
- “The game runs smoothly without any bugs.”
- “I haven't encountered any stability issues during my gameplay.”
- “The performance is consistent, making for a seamless experience.”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
- “I experienced constant lag and frame drops, which ruined the overall experience.”
- “There are numerous bugs that disrupt gameplay, leading to frustrating moments.”
optimization
2 mentions
50 % positive mentions
-100 % neutral mentions
150 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the game's optimization is a concern, with some players feeling that it detracts from the overall experience. There is a sentiment that high-performance hardware shouldn't be a prerequisite for enjoying the game, suggesting that better optimization could enhance accessibility and enjoyment for a wider audience.
- “Who says you need a high-performance PC to enjoy a good game?”
- “The optimization problem ran through my head repeatedly, and the patterns became monotonous, causing it to lose its appeal.”
- “The game suffers from severe optimization issues, making it frustrating to play.”
- “I found the optimization to be lacking, resulting in frequent lag and performance drops.”
emotional
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
While Steamworld Heist features appealing graphics and a charming soundtrack, reviewers feel that the universe and characters lack depth, resulting in an emotional experience that feels flat and uninspired.