SteamWorld Build is the latest entry in the SteamWorld Universe. Ever since I first discovered the SteamWorld series (formerly by Image & Form Games, now known as mega-indie publisher/developer Thunderful Games), I fell in love with everything about this world — the characters, the stories, the towns, the art style.
I did come to SteamWorld a bit late in the game — once the games were released on the Nintendo Switch. Also, I have yet to play the original, SteamWorld Tower Defense — since I never owned a Nintendo DS of my own. If they can port that onto the Nintendo Switch at some point, I will most definitely give it a try.
My journey all started with the second entry in the series, SteamWorld Dig. I recently decided to re-download the SteamWorld library onto my Nintendo Switch and revisit each game.
SteamWorld is the first game franchise that I’ve been committed to that has tackled different genres within the same universe. They could have easily made SteamWorld Dig 1-5, but instead they focused on telling multiple stories across a diverse universe. Other than the two Dig games, each game has fallen under a completely different genre.
While I do enjoy playing a perfectly executed sequel to a game I loved, it is also nice to see how the same team executes on a completely different idea within the same universe. The SteamWorld collection of games is more of an anthology series, than your typical collection of games.
SteamWorld Dig
SteamWorld Dig was originally released in 2013 (on the Nintendo 3DS, Windows, Mac, and Linux). I did not get involved with it until it came to the Nintendo Switch five years later (2018).
What pulled me in was the gameplay loop of digging for resources and bringing them up to the surface to upgrade your tools and equipment. What I didn’t realize right away was that I was playing a Metroidvania.
At the time this was probably my top game genre on the Nintendo Switch.
The Nintendo Switch started off as my way to experience many of the indie games I had previously missed, along with so many brand new ones. I immediately became obsessed with any and all Metroidvanias — Guacamelee, Hollow Knight, Shovel Knight, the Ori games, and SteamWorld Dig.
I jumped back into SteamWorld Dig last week, and I even had my girlfriend play it a bit this week. Ten plus years after it was first released SteamWorld Dig still holds up. I may even beat it again this month.
SteamWorld Heist
After SteamWorld Dig, I was tempted to jump straight into SteamWorld Dig 2, but I instead opted to try the next game in the series. A departure from the Metroidvania genre. SteamWorld Heist is a turn-based strategy game. It takes place in outer space, while Dig took place in an old, run-down town. The series has been known to jump around between different settings and time periods.
I’ve never been great at games involving turn-based combat, especially in the form of turn-based RPGs.
I always start off great (during the tutorial battles), but once I reach a “real combat” scenario my skills go
out the window.
SteamWorld Heist is a great introduction to turn-based combat, and because of this game I have continued to seek out new adventures featuring this style of combat. Recently Sea of Stars and the two Mario + Rabbids games from Ubisoft, two games I may have skipped if it wasn’t for SteamWorld Heist.
SteamWorld Dig 2
On completing SteamWorld Heist, it was time to get back to my comfort zone with the sequel to SteamWorld Dig, SteamWorld Dig 2. The sequel already begins with a twist. Rusty, the main character from the first game is missing, and it’s now up to shopkeeper and former helper, Dorothy, to explore the mines in search of Rusty.
The sequel follows the same style of gameplay, digging and selling resources while expanding on the story and including new upgrades and skills. After playing SteamWorld Dig 2 and going back to the original, the first game feels a bit slow, which is understandable. The Dig games are still my top games within the SteamWorld Universe.
SteamWorld Quest: Hand of Gilgamech
After playing the first three games back-to-back-to-back, I had a few years off before the next game was announced — SteamWorld Quest: Hand of Gilgamech came out right before the deck-building card game craze hit the video game scene. After this game, I remember seeing a Nintendo Direct where almost half of the games shown featured deck-building and cards.
Of the SteamWorld games, this was the first one I had to rely heavily on IGN guides. I really did enjoy the gameplay and card battles. I just wasn’t so great at building decks and picking the proper team for battle. The medieval times setting is a nice touch, and works as the perfect way to introduce this gameplay style.
SteamWorld Build
At the end of 2023, SteamWorld Build was released on PC and consoles. Once again, this is another game genre I would normally not get excited about, but due to being set in the SteamWorld Universe, I was excited to give it a try.
SteamWorld Build mixes city-building with dungeon-crawling — although I was not aware about the dungeon-crawling aspect until the game introduced me to the “second setting” within the game. You start off building and managing your city on the surface, before you are introduced to the underground world where you are mining for resources.
My city is pretty poorly organized, but I did manage to keep the residential and industrial sectors separate. I’m mostly impressed at how well this game runs on consoles. With all there is to do, you’d expect this game to mainly be played on PC with a mouse and keyboard. I haven’t had too much trouble laying out my city, and when I do run into the problem of setting a building in the wrong location I can easily use the move tool and fix my mistake.
Although I’m not always sure what I’m doing, or what I should be doing in this game to keep my city flowing, I do enjoy seeing the little SteamWorld characters moving about my small town.
What’s Next?
So far, we’ve only received a teaser for the next SteamWorld game, SteamWorld Headhunter.
This one is slated to be an action-adventure game, and something completely new to the franchise.
We’re about to enter the SteamWorld Universe in 3D!
I’m excited for not only this, but the team also mentioned they had more SteamWorld in the works — let’s hope one of those is the SteamWorld Dig 3. They also mentioned there would be more SteamWorld Telegraph presentations in the future.
What makes the SteamWorld library of games something special is that they first hooked me with something familiar, the two SteamWorld Dig games. I was introduced to this wonderful world by a game genre I already loved. After that I was interested to learn more about the lore, no matter how I was forced to digest it.
In the video game industry the big thing is not just creating a good original game. It’s now about creating a whole brand around your game. I can see the SteamWorld universe being introduced to non-gamers in the form of a series, like Cuphead. After the next few games are released, Thunderful may even have enough to create a whole theme park.
I’m fine with this team sticking to making games. I want to see what other places they can take these characters — I also think it’s great that the same team is showing what they can do with this collection of games. Instead of sticking to a single type of game, the team is showing off their vast set of skills by hitting home runs across multiple genres.
I’m excited to see what comes next, but until then I will continue to build my city in SteamWorld Build — I may even complete SteamWorld Dig 1 & 2 once again while I wait to see what’s next.
*myVGBC.com was given a review code for SteamWorld Build by Thunderful Games.
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