80%PC

Controls are tight, if you enjopyued Steamworld Dig 1, you will love this. Very good Metroidvania which includes elements of the old Miniclip game Super Motherload.

70%PC

Lots of fun aspects to the game, but eventually became a bit of a slog to try to complete.

90%PC

some parts kind of slow and dragging, overall easily top 10 metroidvania

80%Nintendo Switch

A good iteration upon the first SteamWorld Dig, I feel, but still falls short of the full potential the series could have. I played this game back in 2019, so I was excited to give it another view with fresher, more mature eyes. My opinion back then was mostly favorable, but the story bugged me some. Unfortunately, I feel much the same way, even if I can see some more of the bright parts shining through.

In terms of the design and moment to moment gameplay, this game is leagues beyond its predecessor. That game had a good gameplay loop, but the world lacked cohesion and the more tightly designed caves were only okay. Steamworld Dig 2 contains more memorable setpieces, areas, level design, and naturally, visuals. [DRAFT]

80%Linux

Thoroughly loved it after having played the first game and a large portion of SteamWorld Heist back in 2020. I wasn't loving it at the beginning despite that I didn't have many complaints, but it was mainly due to me being in a little bit of a depressed mood at the time. The enjoyment I got from the game after a few days of playing was actually a big contributor in helping me get out of the mood, and I feel almost the polar opposite now after having completed it. That should say something to you about the fun this game provides.

The game massively expands on the open-endedness of the first game, giving you a few different locations to mine in, but while this certainly isn't a complaint, I can see that there's still a lot more room for ambitious expansion of the game worlds scope if they ever do a third game in the future, which I love to see. Plus, the game didn't feel too small either. Don't expect anything near the openness of other metroidvania's like Hollow Knight though, as that wouldn't quite fit with this games digging progression mechanic, at least not easily.

The music is lovely, especially in the East Temple, the West Temple and the Yarrow regions. I got sick of the El Machino city music very quickly though, even though there's nothing particularly bad, or even monotonous about it. I originally thought that despite the games music being nice, and sometimes relaxing, that it doesn't really fit in a SteamWorld Dig game stylistically, based on the style of the first game, but it eventually grew on me throughout the playthrough. I highly recommend the game and think it's great. You don't need to play the first game to play this, even though it's a continuation of the story from the first game, but the first game is still great, and if you choose to play the first one first, you won't regret it.

In terms of value, I would say it was worth the full $28 AUD when it released in 2017, but given it's age, and that it's still a really good game that doesn't feel aged at all, I would say it's worth around $15 AUD for those looking to buy it on sale, simply in my opinion, if you still want to support the devs without buying during the biggest sale possible. I personally got it for around $5 AUD.

70%Xbox One

Fun and simple.

90%PlayStation Vita

I was afraid there's be cheap deaths after dying twice to rocks falling off of nowhere with no time to react. Turns out it was just bad luck. The rest of the game was real fun. Perfect Length. Good music and ambience.

I just thought the slight 4th wall breaking was unnecessary, it was a fad that grew old the minute it was born.

Highly recommend.

70%PC

I'm a big fan of the SteamWorld series and SteamWorld Dig 2 didn't disappoint. Sometimes, you just want a game that keeps it simple, both in terms of plot and gameplay, and this one nails it.

The story picks up directly after the first game. It does start a little slow, but once you start unlocking new abilities and upgrading your gear, that's when the game truly starts. Before you know it, you're zipping through the mines, grabbing treasures and fighting off enemies.

I played at the normal difficulty and found the difficulty was the perfect balance of being challenging without being frustrating. The exploration was the best part for me: there are hidden paths and secrets scattered all over the map, which keeps things interesting.

If you enjoyed the first you'll like this and if you're looking for a fun little game to play I'd recommend giving this one a shot.

90%Xbox Series X/S

Loved it, the game took everything cool about the first, improved it and build upon it. Amazing job, really enjoyable game, I hope they release a third part in the future.

85%Xbox Series X/S

I don't really play games like that, but I like platformers, puzzlers and exploration games. And it is a nice mix of all of them.

85%PC

Très cool !

100%Nintendo Switch

Amazing game, one of the best indies of all time.

95%PC

very good platfomer

60%Nintendo Switch

Heard so many good things about SteamWorld Dig 2 that I couldn't help feeling a little bewildered for the first few hours. Admittedly, the art style has its charm, but still we are talking about a metroidvania released six months after Hollow Knight (and two years after Ori). Nothing to rave about on this side. As for the content, while certainly nice, it is at first rather repetitive. So repetitive that I actually almost dropped the game : "ok, will it just be a matter of digging, looting and going back and forth to the hub? Really?"

Good news: after this somewhat laborious introduction, the "real game" begins. Bad news: this pure metroidvania part, as intense and successful as it is, is a bit too short (and really too easy, especially in terms of platforming - any Mario veteran will cross the areas whithout even thinking about it). This results in a game that's oddly balanced (the final boss is totally out of proportion in term of difficulty ; not really HARD - just... incongruous regarding everything else in the game), which at times gives the feeling that certain things have been added haphazardly at the last minute. I'm not sure SteamWorld Dig 2 would have lost any of its goodness by chosing to be a game without any enemies or combat (for example).

Anyway, my comment seems very harsh whereas it's a pleasant game. Even bought the first episode straight away, out of pure curiosity.

80%PC

Me gustó mucho Dorothy, quede encantada con su personalidad y con Fen, fue como un personaje tan lindo y me hubiera gustado más de él, el juego fue bastante más completo y emocionante que el primero con puzzles más interesantes y un exterior que explorar

70%PC

This was a slightly better version of the last game. Movement felt better, but the battles felt the exact same. More dialogue, which I didn't have a strong opinion about by the end, but was kinda irritating throughout because I wanted to listen to a book at the same time. I'm all about exploration and this game was... fine for it? Not as good as the first one

80%PC

A great improvement on the original in basically every way. Better movement options, story (ending was kinda dumb but whatever), customization, progression, everything you can think of. great game! hope we see a third someday.

90%PC

A very good video game. Has all the stuff you would want out of a game... Fun mechanics, upgrades, visuals, boss fights, exploration.

90%Nintendo 3DS

This game is so much fun. Even better than Dig 1, which I recommend to play first. Great small action RPG and one of the best games in Nintendo 3DS.
(Deaths 14, Wealt 24159, Secrets 87%)

70%Nintendo Switch

The game is a quirky and fun Metroidvania with a unique emphasis on digging mechanics. However, it falls slightly short in the combat department, and just as the mobility aspects become more interesting, the game comes to an end.

75%PC

SteamWorld Dig 2 follows up the first game where you now play as Dorothy who's searching for Rusty, the last game's protagonist.

The story is nothing special, just a slight improvement from the first game. What is vastly improved however is the environmental variety. Instead of only a western desert, now you encounter fungal areas, toxic camps, tribal shrines, and sci-fi chase sequences. The color palette of this game is a treat for the eyes and that's reflected in the various locales you'll visit.

The gameplay "loop" at first is still the same as the first game which entails digging a path down to an objective while making constant trips back to the surface to deposit ores and gems and buy upgrades. Like the last game, this started to drag really fast. The transport valves alleviate some of the frustration with this but it doesn't change the fact that the monotony of the back-and-forth gameplay set in quicker than I thought it would.

Thankfully, at about the halfway point of the game, the direction switches gears into its "Metroidvania" style which gave a much needed relief from the tedium of the gameplay up until that point. Unfortunately, while the variance was appreciated, I found that the game didn't give itself the time to let these elements breathe enough for them to feel fully developed. As it stands, the backtracking to different areas feels extremely half-baked and left me wanting more.

The final boss, unlike the first game, was actually surprisingly fun. It was just difficult enough to be a challenge while not crossing into unfair territory.

As to be expected of a SteamWorld game, the music was incredible. Not quite as good as SteamWorld Heist in my opinion but good music is still good music.

I do recommend SteamWorld Dig 2, it's a good game but I felt there was room to do more as a sequel. Give this one a go if you're interested.

75%PC

These games are just awesome "potato chip" games for me to crank out on a quiet weekend. Nothing groundbreaking, but has some classic platformer goodness with a compelling progression treadmill -- and it wraps up right as it's running out of gas.

80%Nintendo Switch

+ Fun pick up and play gameplay
+ Useful upgrades that help your quest immediately
+ Decent boss fights, especially the final boss

- Lackluster overall story
- Short game
- Fun for 15 min play sessions, much less enjoyable for longer play sessions.

80%PC

84

90%Nintendo Switch

9.5

80%PC

What a great little game! I played the first SteamWorld Dig a few years back and remember it fondly. The sequel just build on and added to an already solid foundation.

The game itself is gorgeous, with beautiful environments and a great soundtrack. The gameplay is great, seamlessly combining mining and exploration, combat, Metroidvania progression and backtracking, and a sprinkling of puzzle-solving. Some of the cave levels were so great that the main gameplay did feel like filler at times - just getting in the way of more of the awesome cave levels, but all around everything was a blast to play through, and the variety in activities kept anything from feeling stale.

I thought the length of the game was perfect, striking a great balance between progressing through the game's story and then hunting down the last few hidden upgrade cogs and secret artifacts before wrapping up my playthrough.

My major complaint involves spoilers, so read on if you want:

I did find all of the secrets and started to attempt the Trials that are unlocked after doing so, Some of these Trials were fun, but one of them involved some very precise and obscure platforming techniques that are never explained in the game. I honestly couldn't get past the first couple obstacles in this Trial, and since all of them have to be completed back-to-back to get the reward at the end, I threw in the towel - that's just not the kind of gameplay I find enjoyable. The other Trials that I did attempt were pretty fun and challenging, so I wish there would've been a way to complete them individually.

Other than that, though, this game was a blast!

80%Nintendo Switch

+ Solid visuals;
+ Tight controls;
+ Improved and more varied gameplay;
+ Stellar level design;
+ Interesting boss battles;
+ Good soundtrack.

- Forgettable story and characters.

8.5 - A must-buy.

70%Nintendo Switch

For me, the additional mechanics, secrets etc. didn't add anything spectacular to the game. Dig 2 felt slower than the first game because of them. I liked the characters, graphics und the feel of the game, especially several hours in.
Although I liked this one, I prefer the first game.

80%Nintendo Switch

Good game overall 8/10
A new story and a new character. With other minor updates and quality of life fixes made to this sequel the story takes elements from the first game and integrates it with ease. The visuals were good on par with the original and of course the music sets the mood in every single area. I enjoyed my play through greatly.

70%Nintendo Switch

Better than the first one.

70%Mac

Addictive

90%PlayStation 4

Extremamente viciante!

80%Nintendo Switch

Both this and the 1st game are the definitive turn your brain off and chill games.

80%Nintendo 3DS

The main gameplay loop of digging for precious gems to upgrade your equipment so you can dig deeper to get more gems to upgrade more of your equipment to dig even deeper to…

Needless to say it’s fun

60%PC

Clean gameplay flow and pacing, feels good moment to moment
Chill af soundtrack
Characters are pretty meh, just some cute bots, but also not the focus of the game, I guess they're just there
3/4ths in you get a jetpack that invalidates pretty much all the clean level design that the game offers, which is a major disappointment

90%PC

This game is a huge improvement compared to the first Steamworld Dig (which was already great FYI). It's an almost perfect metroidvania, with excellent level design, funny characters, great controls, tons of secrets to discover, no needless backtracking and colorful graphics. Very, very recommended!

60%PC

So average. Same game. Movement doesn't feel good- aattacking feels worst

70%Nintendo Switch

Not a bad game but not quite as fun or interesting as I thought it would be. Makes Steamworld dig 1 feel under appreciated.

80%Nintendo Switch

A very engaging and rewarding game! Fantastic gameplay loop, great upgrades and lots of varied places to explore. Story was good and tied in well with the first game. Definitely the definitive SteamWorld Dig experience!

90%PC

I did not expect to enjoy this so much. Simple and engaging gameplay loop, charming visuals, quirky characters, and fun story. Lots of upgrades to purchase (and if you explore much at all, you'll get most of them). Definitely curious to play more of this IP now.

70%PC

Pleasantly surprised by this one. Most Metroidvanias are hit or miss for me. I think the thing that works well with this one is A) it's paired with an original concept (the digging). And B) It's really well paced. The upgrade tree is useful and varied, mining is fast, running back to town to sell resources isn't a chore, nothing about this game is a chore. The abilities are doled out quickly and the level design accommodates them well.

The general set-up is a large open-ish world to dig in with separate rooms with more unique challenges a la the Mario games. I think this works really well and I was surprised how good the puzzle/platforming was in the challenge rooms. They always reward you with an upgrade cog, which always lets you upgrade one of your abilities in a simultaneously *useful* and *unique* way. A rarity in upgrade systems. The main quest is essentially an excuse for you to dig deeper and find more of these rooms.

The art, music, and animation are all crisp. The story isn't exactly interesting but there is one particular level that stands out as being a good *moment*, a creepy one at that. The core gameplay loop and level design is where this game shines, it's just solid execution. It is a little short, but really it's the perfect length. There's only so far you can go with this type of game before you have to add a more advanced combat system. I'm glad that it used up all it's potential and ended before anything became repetitive.

100%Nintendo Switch

Improves the formula of the original game by adding some quality of life improvements. For instance, easier to bounce between walls, in general tighter controls, water pools don’t run out…

The art style has also improved and the story is a bit more exposed through dialog.

90%Nintendo Switch

Fun and addictive gameplay

90%PC

Extremely satisfying gameplay loop, and I really....dug...the music

60%Nintendo Switch

One of the few metroidvanias that I have enjoyed, the game flowed well, ended very abruptly though.

70%PC

Just like the first one, but much more elaborate. More of basically everything. Still a mix between Spelunky and a Metroidvania, but a pretty fun game.

80%Nintendo Switch

Entretenido, algo mejor que el primero con más opciones e historia.

80%Xbox One

I thought I had already done a review for this but perhaps it didn't save. As such, I'll do a much shorter review this time. The graphics were HD and much better than your typical 16 bit side scroller. The soundtrack started off fine and adjusted well based on your surroundings, but it wasn't epic by any means. The upgrades were somewhat well timed to keep things fresh and the trips up and down from the surface to the mine were well balanced to keep you interested and not overwhelmed. The game is over-all well balanced. I did run into a glitch where the game froze up around 6 times in the exact same spot when trying to out-run the crazy robots that came alive and attacked you. I got over it but stopping before the freeze spot and letting it play out (without dying which was a challenge). That was my biggest knock on the game. The different worlds were nice change of sceneries. The NPC conversations I had to pass on. I didn't really feel connected to any of the characters and nothing really came new except for the one NPC that gave upgrades based on rare items found. Probably not going to re-play anytime soon, but worth the 10-13 hour play-thru.

90%Nintendo Switch

Great MV top 10 that I've played

80%Nintendo Switch

This game got a lot of hype in indie game circles, and after playing it, I can say it does indeed fulfill those high expectations. It improves and refines all of the original game's mechanics for a deeper (pun intended) and more fleshed out experience. The game has more content, but more diverse content, multiple biomes, more quirky characters, more wacky upgrades, and greater challenges, all built upon a rock-solid gaming foundation (it's too easy, im sorry). Maybe not one of my top 5 metroidvanias, but def in the top 10!