It is also about robots: Steamworld Dig

Steamworld Dig is presented in the reviews that pop up when you look over the game news as a Metroidvania, which I don't think it is. In turn, I'm not exactly sure what Steamworld Dig actually is, beyond feeling like the partial combination of various other elements from other games.

First things first, the game's visuals are fantastic, the usual steampunk aesthetic getting its groove on with a mix of other styles. All the characters look good, and the game is just plain easy on the eyes. It feels a lot like playing Terraria, but it is more hand-drawn and in most ways better looking. It doesn't do quite as well in terms of how it uses its lighting, which is a bit disappointing since digging games really benefit from deep shadows and contrast. The lighting effects in Steamworld Dig are rather limited, and don't have the spooky impact they do in Terraria, which was sort of weird.

Second, it is mostly a platformer with digging options - it does have some Metroidvania elements to it, but it doesn't quite feel like one. At its very core, the combat is pretty light stuff, and most of the game is just exploring the mysteries as you dig down in a huge mine and then just keep going with little in the way of backtracking. You do get upgrades along the way, but they generally feel less like something you absolutely need and more like quality of life improvements. There's a good vibe to it, though, just as a certain element starts to drone on in your brain the game throws you an upgrade to make that get less annoying.

In this the gameplay is very satisfying and very soothing. It isn't a difficult game, more or less a casual title, centered on digging. You dig things up, sell them, buy and find upgrades. The game's story is actually very reminiscent of Primordia, which is weirdly ironic given I settled into playing both so close together. It's not exactly as dark as Primordia, but it has many of the same angles that do tend to feel a little grim.

The main elements of the gameplay are digging and then the interaction between digging and your various supplies. You have limited bag space, limited hitting power, limited health, light and water. All of these being depleted makes it pretty difficult to get around, and in the case of health, ultimately kills you. You can upgrade all of this stuff with money or "power orbs" which increases them in a pretty linear fashion over the course of the game. The Metroidvania, I guess, comes from the aforementioned upgrades which grant you running or double jump or the various sort of things you usually gets.

Steamworld Dig is pretty by the book, mixing elements from various other titles, but the clean visual style and simple gameplay make it a relaxing if a little monotonous title. I don't really recommend it in the pure sense of a fantastic, engrossing core title to spend your time on, but I do recommend it if you want something to sit in front of the screen with controller in hand for twenty minutes every once in a while.

Not everything needs to be the next big heart stopper. Sometimes it is alright to just be good, right?