SteamWorld Dig Image
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82

Generally favorable reviews - based on 30 Critics What's this?

User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 34 Ratings

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  • Summary: The clock has stopped around the turn of the 19th century, and humankind has prematurely blown itself to bits. The remaining scraps are huddling in caves beneath the surface, and steam-powered robots have taken over the Wild West.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 30
  2. Negative: 0 out of 30
  1. Aug 9, 2013
    100
    Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you SteamWorld Dig: Your new favourite Nintendo 3DS game.
  2. 90
    SteamWorld Dig is a fresh game for the Nintendo eShop and one of the best digital games available on Nintendo's 3D handheld.
  3. Sep 18, 2013
    90
    Part Metroid, part Minecraft and 100% wonderful. [Nov 2013, p.73]
  4. 80
    For under ten dollars, there’s a lot of fun to be had with SteamWorld Dig.
  5. Aug 30, 2013
    80
    Suffice it to say this is exactly the kind of game eShop needs more of: Simple, addictive, and creative despite wearing its influences prominently.
  6. Aug 22, 2013
    80
    SteamWorld Dig isn’t ground-breaking, but its tight action platforming and satisfying gameplay hook will easily keep you entertained for several hours. It’s perfectly designed for a handheld experience, allowing you to pick up and play for a few minutes here and there, progressing a little further each time.
  7. Aug 11, 2013
    60
    Digging for three and a half hours may be fun, but, in the end, is just digging.

See all 30 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. Aug 25, 2013
    10
    Do you like games like Minecraft, Terraria, Dig Dug or Motherload? Is your second home in the underground, mining and digging minerals? Are you a robot? Well, if all 3 questions apply to you, you should go see a doctor. But if you are said yes to the first 2 questions, then SteamWorld Dig is the perfect game for you.
    In this game you will dig deeper and deeper, finding scary and awesome stuff and, of course, minerals to bring back home.
    I do not want to spoil too much, BUT I can assure you, you will love this game (if you are a fan of games like this) and enjoy every second of it. Go on now, go get it on the Nintendo 3DS eShop!
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  2. Aug 13, 2013
    10
    Awesome game! Read a lot of reviews praising this game so I had to download it. Great controls, gameplay and graphics. Great mix of spaghetti western and steampunk. Gotta love those robots. Can't wait for the sequel! Expand
  3. Aug 26, 2013
    10
    SteamWorld Dig is a platform game that seems like the illegitimate offspring of Dig Dug and Metroid, combining elements of both into one new and enjoyable game. You play as a mining steam-bot named Rusty who digs down into the earth in search of treasure and the hopes of finding the secrets that may be buried there. As you explore the earth you will create tunnels, fight a wide variety of enemies and collect rare metals that you can use back on the surface to create better equipment.

    When thinking about what makes a great game I think about control, graphics, and playability and this game nails them all. When I was moving Rusty around the screen he did exactly what I wanted him to, the controls were top notch and everything seemed tight and responsive. The graphics pop off the screen and the feature strong character designs and enemies. The game is full of little touches that the player will discover if they pay attention while playing the game and if there is ever an upgraded Wii U port then you can expect to have people just sit and watch you play it.

    The games concept is a great one, the mechanics of digging tunnels and slowly unlocking more and more of the world is awesome and well implemented. The game gets the pacing down just right; when I started to get frustrated with how many swings it took to kill an enemy I unlocked an upgrade to my weapon. When it started to become a chore to climb back to the surface to sell my goods and heal I unlock the transporters. Every time something started to grind on me the game had an option for me to purchase in game that resolved the problem, it is a genius bit of programing and is perfectly executed.

    So, to wrap it up, just how good is SteamWorld Dig? It is so good that my review got delayed a couple of days because every time I popped it on to check something for the review I wound up playing it for an hour or two. It is one of the top five best original (non-VC or retail) games on the 3DS eShop and is probably the best nine dollars that you can spend on your 3DS this week. Pick it up and see what every one is talking about.
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  4. Sep 7, 2013
    10
    This is definitely my favorite eShop title thus far. It's incredible how shallow the game seems at first (although I admit the gameplay doesn't change much as it progresses). And this may sound cheesy, but some of the moments I felt when I first encountered certain enemies and terrain were incredible. In the end, it's an incredibly enjoyable experience, and the well-tuned mechanics help make it extremely addicting. Great themes set throughout the game, it takes the tired post-apocalyptic setting and presents it in a lighthearted, yet intriguing way. I love it! Expand
  5. Aug 16, 2013
    10
    Steamworld Dig is the first 3DS game from small developer Image & Form. You play as lonesome Rusty who arrives at the town of Tumbleton. You are swiftly informed that Joe, your uncle, has gone missing. Your job is bring the town back to prosperity and hopefully reunite with your uncle. The gameplay is simple but addictive blending cave exploration, mining and simple combat into a small package. The game is tiny at only 348 blocks which translates to roughly 43mb. This is particularly impressive given the massive size of the caves, all of which feature extremely detailed and colorful backgrounds depending on the part of the cave you’re in.

    As you progress you will level up and unlock upgrades, allowing you to become an even more badass miner. Dynamite, drills, super punches will all be within your grasps within a few hours of play. Your hard graft will allow the town to bring back some of its former vendors allowing you to purchase even more tools and supplies.

    The art is absolutely gorgeous and greatly detailed. Everything from the swing of the pickaxe which kicks up dust is displayed in amazing fashion. The enemy design is great too, but they do tend to repeat too much. The game is also consistent and will constantly save your game every time you return to the surface, everything you did in the mine will be saved allowing you to venture back to the depths to finish off collecting any forgotten treasures.

    The music is good, nothing spectacular, it keeps the mining sessions from getting tedious. The mines are huge, On my playthrough my character reached 800 metres and there was still more below.

    The game can get quite difficult when you’re stuck miles from a teleport to the surface and have no water, forcing you to reset and attempt to recollect your treasures This really only applies to how you dig. Leaving wide open spaces is almost impossible to scale up without the water jump giving you almost no option but to reset. The game can get a bit repetitive during extended play sessions but its clear this isn’t meant to be the way to play, while it is certainly possibly to complete the game in one session your enthusiasm may be diminished after a few hours of endless mining.
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  6. Aug 26, 2013
    9
    As a big of dig games (Terraria, Minecraft, etc) I really enjoyed this game. The art style, minimized storyline and action platformer game-play made for an incredible enjoyable experience.

    The only complaint I can think to make about this game is that at 5 hours to complete (and a couple additional hours for full completion) I did feel like the experience was a bit short and due to to lack of randomization the re-playability is fairly low.

    That being said however this game was a blast and at the low pricetag even the brevity of the game isn't enough to stop me from recommending it to anyone.
    Expand
  7. Sep 23, 2013
    8
    The latest 3DS e-Shop darling is a metroidvania-style platformer that's filled to the brim with action, charm, and great gameplay ideas.

    Th
    e game takes place in a steampunk western setting where everyone is a robot. You play as Rusty, who arrives at the town of Tumbleton to inherit your deceased uncle's mine. As such, the core gameplay has you digging through said mine, looking for a plethora precious minerals and upgrades to your system. Each upgrade (including better digging tools, boosts in basic abilities, and even a mineral-finding radar) is found on dedicated sublevels, offering new ways to help you keep on digging. The minerals help you get money and develop the town, which attracts new storeowners to settle there as a result.

    The digging mechanic is very well-executed. The mine is basically your oyster; you can dig almost wherever you choose to look for those elusive minerals, but you always have to make sure there's a way to climb back to Tumbleton when your lamp wears off. It's the sort of gameplay that can get really addictive, and you'll often find yourself unable to resist the urge to get back to the mine for some more digging after returning to the town, cashing in your gems, and purchasing new goodies at the local stores.

    The game's three worlds (each a subsection of the gigantic mine) will offer plenty of challenges, with new enemies, abilities, and minerals hiding at every corner. The characterization is spotless, and the game's simple plot even succeeds in making you actually care about the mystery of what actually happened to Rusty's uncle.

    Of course, being an e-Shop title, SteamWorld Dig falls victim to some of the usual letdowns of downloadable games. It's a relatively short affair, clocking in at about five hours, and the addictive nature of the gameplay means that it will feel even shorter. It also lacks the oomph of epic boss battles, and each new upgrade feels rather less satisfying without some gigantic monster guarding it. Finally, there's so much creativity on display here that the game just begs for at least a couple extra worlds to explore.

    Nevertheless, SteamWorld Dig is a game that's easy to fall in love with, and however much time you put into it will be amply rewarded by tons of fun.

    Rating: 8.5 (rounded down)
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See all 9 User Reviews