SteamWorld Dig: A Fistful of Dirt

 Switch
Metascore
75

Generally favorable reviews - based on 11 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 11
  3. Negative: 0 out of 11
  1. Gaming Nexus
    Feb 28, 2018
    80
    Steamworld Dig is a fun game, but it’s pretty short and can get repetitive after a while. My first playthrough clocked in at just under four hours and most of the game is mining, going back to town to cash out and upgrade, and repeat. That said though, Steamworld Dig is still a good game, and ten dollars is a decent price for it, but just take note that more expert level gamers might be disappointed in how short the game can be.
  2. God is a Geek
    Feb 9, 2018
    80
    The Switch port is fantastic but I feel like they could’ve done slightly more. The big omission for me is the lack of HD rumble.
  3. GameSpew
    Feb 8, 2018
    80
    Charming and engaging in equal measure, SteamWorld Dig offers a quirky, addictive subterranean adventure that is well worth digging into.
  5. Nintenderos
    Feb 7, 2018
    80
    SteamWorld Dig is a fun title that perfectly combines adventure, exploration and platforming. This is a very fun and entertaining game that you can now enjoy in portable mode and on the TV. Its short length is the only negative point that you could find.
  6. Cubed3
    Feb 5, 2018
    80
    SteamWorld Dig holds up tremendously well considering it originated on 3DS back in 2013. All these years later, despite its sequel surpassing it, this original has so much to offer that it should not be overlooked. If having never tried it before, Nintendo Switch fans owe it themselves to dig deep, unearth their hard-earned coin, explore Image & Form's treasure, and definitely make this gem of a game their own.
  7. Nintendo Life
    Feb 1, 2018
    80
    SteamWorld Dig can proudly sit amongst those top-tier eShop titles that can describe themselves as a ‘must-play’. There is a small desert’s worth of charm packed into this game, with a beautifully high level of polish and sheen just oozing from its very core. We’d love to have more reasons to play the game after its relatively short campaign and, considering this game is a short few years old now, having a UK launch price higher than when it released on previous Nintendo systems seems slightly off, but the gameplay alone will show you that this one is a real winner. If you’re looking to delve into the SteamWorld universe for the first time, this would be a great place to start.
  8. Worth Playing
    Jul 13, 2018
    73
    As a sum of its parts, Steamworld Dig: A Fistful of Dirt still holds up reasonably well. If you haven't jumped in yet, start your journey here before tackling the sequel. The gameplay may feel limited if you've already completed the sequel, but A Fistful of Dirt is still an incredibly fun platformer.
  9. Video Chums
    Feb 4, 2018
    72
    There certainly isn't much variety in SteamWorld Dig. Whereas the sequel is full of awesome things to see and do, this debut title feels flat in comparison. All you do is mine and dig over and over again. There are puzzle rooms that reward you with bonuses once you figure them out and secret areas to uncover but there's not nearly enough to make up for the simple core gameplay.
  10. DarkStation
    Mar 2, 2018
    70
    Overall SteamWorld Dig has a lot of potential for some fun. Unfortunately, due to the tedium of going to and from the town to make money just isn’t for me. It’s a very well built game though, so if you like grinding, or if it doesn’t bother you, you like can’t go wrong with SteamWorld Dig. However, if you’re like me and tedious tasks tend to gnaw at your attention very quickly maybe give this one a pass and try Spelunky instead.
  11. DarkZero
    Feb 14, 2018
    70
    Overall the story never really grabbed me and seems underdeveloped but it’s a not a story driven game, it’s a game driven by gold and exploration. This game is a great port and one I would recommend any switch owner pick up as it’s fun to play. The great things is Steamworld Dig 2 is already on Switch so you can go pick that one up straight after you finished the first one.
  12. NintendoWorldReport
    Feb 1, 2018
    70
    My main problem with SteamWorld Dig is that, apart from the puzzle rooms, there’s not a lot of meat on these bones. Second, I recently played (and perhaps you did too) SteamWorld Dig 2, a game that blows its predecessor out of the water in every possible respect. However, it’s interesting to go back to the original after playing its sequel, because you can see how the core gameplay evolved. I like SteamWorld Dig; I just like SteamWorld Dig 2 more and that fact, maybe unfairly, winds up hurting the former. It’s definitely worth playing, though, on whatever system you have that it runs on.

Awards & Rankings

63
#63 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2018

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 97 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 66 out of 97
  2. Mixed: 27 out of 97
  3. Negative: 4 out of 97
  1. nusco
    Oct 26, 2018
    7
    A short but thoroughly enjoyable underground exploration that keeps you in the loop until you're done.
  2. aztimh
    Feb 5, 2018
    9
    I was in a weird position with this franchise. I had heard of it but never tried it until my Nintendo Switch. Meaning I’ve played the games inI was in a weird position with this franchise. I had heard of it but never tried it until my Nintendo Switch. Meaning I’ve played the games in reverse order. While much simpler than its sequel; Steamworld Dig is a fun 5 hour game that sets up an amazing franchise and I think it is good value for what you get from it.… Full Review »
  3. TheFlannelFox
    Feb 2, 2018
    8
    Originally released in 2013, the indie smash hit has now dug its way onto the Nintendo Switch. The predecessor to SteamWorld Dig 2, whichOriginally released in 2013, the indie smash hit has now dug its way onto the Nintendo Switch. The predecessor to SteamWorld Dig 2, which came out last September 2017 by Image and Form.

    Playing as steam bot Rusty you arrive in Tumbleton after your deceased uncle gives you the deed to a mine and you rob his corpse of his old pickaxe. It’s your job to restore the town of Tumbleton by digging for precious minerals and selling them back on the surface.

    Creating your own way as you dig through the enormous mine, which is procedurally generated for each campaign playthrough. Running into different enemies, pickups, and environments the deeper you go down. As you dig your way you’ll upgrade your gear to allow you to smash harder rocks, keep your lantern lit longer, and boost your armor to protect you from those cavernous creepy crawlies. Finding adjacent caves along the way, you also learn new skills, speedy boots that allow you to run and jump further, a drill to pulverize rocks, and a jump to break those high to reach areas. In true metroidvania fashion, allowing you to reach depths you couldn’t reach before.

    The gameplay loop of collecting minerals, selling them to come back better than ever, and dig deeper finding higher valued ore and more difficult challenges is incredible. Having a blast digging I very frequently ran out of light and found myself in the dark.

    As a platformer SteamWorld Dig isn’t very challenging to say the least, which is really nice. Normally I love the hardest platformer I can find, but the exploration and looting is so engaging that you just get lost in the discovery. There are some interesting environmental puzzles along the way, digging under huge boulders trying to create a path to the next section of the cave and if you mess up, you can exit the room and try again. Also if you dig yourself into a spot with no way out, you have the self-destruct option, taking some cash to scrap you back together and send you back to town.

    Verdict
    SteamWorld Dig is a great game that built the foundation for one of my favorite indie franchises. It’s such a solid experience that it is a fantastic to any gamers Switch library.

    Now if you're new to the Switch and haven’t played SteamWorld Dig 2, I would absolutely recommend playing SteamWorld Dig one first. As the sequel, like most great sequels, is so much more evolved than the first, moving from 2 to 1 feels like a bit of a downgrade and playing in order with this series will be the most rewarding player experience.

    That being said if you’ve beaten SteamWorld Dig 2 and are pining to throw more dirt over your shoulder, this will certainly scratch the itch.

    Be sure to watch my video review at YouTube channel TheFlannelFox    … Full Review »
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