STRUCK GOLD

SteamWorld Dig 2 continues the 2D adventure of the original SteamWorld Dig from 2013. The post-apocalyptic robot-centric world is far from baron in this new iteration. With updated visuals, deep gameplay mechanics, and simply a fun experience, SteamWorld Dig 2 is the perfect Metroidvania for anyone craving the genre. 

In SteamWorld Dig 2, the mechanical protagonist, Dorothy, explores the world in pursuit of solving the mysterious occurrences while figuring out what happened to Rusty, the main character in the original game. Sadly, Dorothy isn’t as interesting as Rusty once was. Even moreso, I’m not invested or even remotely interested in finding out more about her or learning anything beyond the immediate story beats. There’s a few mildly intriguing characters, a comical quip or two, but nothing that resonated beyond those moments.

However, what SteamWorld Dig 2 lacks in character development, it more than compensates with its impeccable gameplay. Like many Metroidvanias, SteamWorld Dig 2 gradually rewards players with fantastic new abilities to traverse under the world. After a few hours into the game, I was zipping around my self-dug tunnels, destroying enemies with torpedoes, and exploding my way towards some secret crevices.

The general gameplay loop of discovering gems, selling gems, and upgrading your gear sounds trivial, but manages to make each moment engaging and intriguing. Additionally, throughout the adventure, various caves can be found underground. Similar to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild’s shrines, these bite-sized challenges really reward you for each completion. There’s also a multitude of discoverable collectibles that can be exchanged for various upgrades to your character.

Image & Form Games leans even further with the ability to modify and upgrade all the gear available to you. This grants the opportunity to tweak my Dorothy the way I want to enjoy the game. Even better, these modifications (which can be altered at will) gives opportunities to modify Dorothy for particular situations. I first discovered this beneficial ability while traversing through an area with an abundance of lava. I attached a cog (a discoverable item with special abilities) making Dorothy lava resistant for short periods and was able to breeze through the area. These types of moments really showcase the importance of experimenting with modifications to persevere through some more frustrating moments.

These types of moments are heightened even further by the sheer beauty of SteamWorld Dig 2. Regardless of the platform you choose, the stellar variety amongst the underground areas, paired with the dynamic soundtrack really ties things together. I absolutely loved finding a new area that aesthetically looked drastically different than previous locations and was excited to continue exploring.

The Verdict: 8.8 Out of 10

SteamWorld Dig 2 is a fantastic addition to the SteamWorld universe. With strong RPG, puzzle mechanics, and tightly packaged gameplay, SteamWorld Dig 2 is certainly worth your time.

This game was reviewed on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation Vita, and PlayStation 4. For more information about what the score means, check out our official review scale.

---

Follow Harry Loizides, Editor-In-Chief, through his life of video games, obstacle races, and other adventures with Instagram, Twitter, and IGN.