- Addictive digging mechanic creates enjoyable experience.
- Relaxing gameplay loop with rewarding progression system.
- Good for short, casual gaming sessions.
- Lacks content, replayability, and story depth.
- Tedious achievements and abrupt, disappointing ending.
- Simple, repetitive gameplay with shallow upgrades.
Verdict
Mostly positive
Summary
Positive 83% · Negative 17%. Score: 17 / 100
Positives:
- The game is consistently praised for being fun, enjoyable, and addictive. Reviewers highlight its simple yet effective gameplay loop, relaxing nature, and overall satisfying experience. Many find it to be a great value for its price, offering hours of entertainment.
- The core digging mechanic is a major source of enjoyment. Players find the act of digging, whether for treasures or simply to create a large hole, to be satisfying and even therapeutic. Upgrades enhance this experience, making it more efficient and rewarding.
- The game is frequently mentioned as a good way to pass the time, offering a short but engaging experience. Its low price point makes it an accessible option for casual players looking for a quick and easy distraction.
- The game includes achievements that add extra goals and extend the gameplay. Players enjoy hunting for these achievements, finding them to be a fun challenge that enhances the overall experience and provides a sense of accomplishment.
- Many reviewers find the game to be relaxing and stress-relieving. The simple gameplay and repetitive tasks create a meditative experience, similar to games like Power Wash Simulator, allowing players to unwind and de-stress.
Negatives:
- Many reviewers found the game too short, with limited content and replayability. The short length makes the game feel incomplete and not worth the price, with some even mentioning the ability to complete and refund the game within Steam's refund policy. Players desire more levels, modes, and content to extend the game's lifespan.
- The game's achievement system is poorly implemented, with achievements often locked behind a second playthrough or 'achievement mode'. Additionally, the initial gameplay requires excessive clicking to dig, which can be uncomfortable and tedious until later upgrades are unlocked. This makes the early game a grind and discourages replayability.
- The ending is widely criticized for being abrupt, unsatisfying, and a departure from the core gameplay. The shift to a stealth-horror segment with instant-death enemies and the lack of meaningful rewards or resolution left players feeling disappointed and betrayed. Some reviewers felt the ending was a 'troll' or 'joke' that ruined the overall experience.
- The upgrade system is underdeveloped, with upgrades being acquired too quickly and offering limited depth. Players often find themselves with excess money and nothing to spend it on, as the available upgrades are quickly maxed out. This lack of meaningful progression diminishes the incentive to continue playing.
- Players are frustrated by small pieces of dirt remaining after digging, which obstruct movement and cause fall damage. The lack of a tool to level surfaces or clean up these remnants makes navigation awkward and can lead to unexpected deaths. This issue detracts from the core digging experience.
Gameplay:
- The core gameplay loop revolves around digging a hole in a backyard to find treasure, collecting resources, selling them, and using the money to upgrade equipment for more efficient digging. Players start with a basic shovel and progress to more powerful tools like drills and dynamite, encountering various ores, gems, and obstacles along the way. The ultimate goal is to dig deeper, uncover hidden treasures, and potentially discover what lies at the very bottom.
- Players can purchase and upgrade equipment like jetpacks and lamps to enhance navigation and visibility within the mine. Upgrades also improve digging speed, carrying capacity, and underground time.
- An achievement mode unlocks after the initial playthrough, offering additional challenges and content. Some achievements, like the rainbow ore achievement, are exclusively available in this mode.
- Many reviewers noted the game's similarity to the Flash game Motherload, but presented in a 3D first-person perspective. This comparison highlights the core digging mechanic and resource management aspects.
- Dynamite is a key tool for blasting through obstacles and hard rocks that the pickaxe cannot destroy, aiding in the pursuit of treasure.
Performance:
- The game is generally reported to run well, with many players specifically noting good performance and stability on the Steam Deck. Some users report good battery life on the Steam Deck, while others note it drains quickly, possibly due to a lack of settings to limit performance.
- Several specific bugs were reported, including floating soil, lights remaining after destroying surfaces, freezes when entering the garage, crashes when opening the sell menu on Steamdeck, and a wall breach in the third playthrough. While these bugs exist, they don't appear to be widespread or game-breaking.
- The game is reasonably polished and doesn't require significant resources to run. The graphics are considered acceptable, with minor texture issues not detracting from the overall visual experience.
- The game causes the GPU and CPU to run at very high temperatures (80+C), even on systems that exceed the recommended requirements. This could indicate optimization issues or excessive resource usage.
- The game's dirt physics are considered to be a highlight, suggesting a well-implemented and engaging environmental interaction.
Recommendations:
- A common sentiment is that the game has potential but needs more content. Reviewers express a desire for updates, DLC, or a sequel to expand the gameplay experience and add depth. Many reviewers state they are waiting for more content to be added.
- Many reviewers feel the game is worth its low price, often around $5. They cite the enjoyable, albeit short, experience as a good value for the money. Some reviewers even state they would have been willing to pay more.
- Many reviewers mention the game's short length, often completable in a single sitting (1-3 hours). While some find this length acceptable for the price, others feel it detracts from the overall experience. Some reviewers suggest the game is good for speedrunning.
- Many reviewers express strong positive feelings towards the game, often giving it perfect or near-perfect scores. They describe it as fun, relaxing, and well-executed, with some even calling it a must-buy. Some reviewers jokingly suggest the game is a Game of the Year contender.
- The game is recommended for players who enjoy digging, mining, or simulation games. Some reviewers compare it favorably to similar titles like "Powerwash Simulator" or "Lawn Mowing Simulator". However, some reviewers suggest there are better digging games available.
Miscellaneous:
- Many reviewers expressed hope for future content updates, such as new ores, deeper game areas, and mod support. This suggests players are engaged with the core gameplay loop but desire more content to extend the experience.
- The game structure requires completing the initial playthrough before achievements become available. Achievement progress is tracked during the first run, but they only unlock after the ending.
- The jetpack is a useful tool, but reviewers advise caution due to its battery consumption. Running out of battery can lead to an explosion, death, and loss of inventory, adding a risk/reward element to exploration.
- A day/night cycle could enhance the utility of lights purchased early in the game. This suggests a desire for more dynamic gameplay and resource management.
