The screen starts with a tiny orange drill pod hanging over a narrow strip of ground, HUD up top showing fuel, hull and credits, and that flat Martian dirt waiting to be chopped into. It looks simple, but the pit below fills up fast once you start digging.
You basically steer the pod down, blast or drill through rock, scoop up ore and minerals, and haul them back to the surface to sell and upgrade your drill, hull, cargo and fuel tank. There is a constant trade off, because heavier loads slow you and running out of fuel or breaking the hull means losing everything.
It feels chunky and satisfying, like each ore pickup makes a tiny click in your head. Slow at times, a bit tense when your fuel is low, and oddly calming when you find a vein of gold and watch the cash climb. I like that upgrades actually change how you play, not just numbers on a screen.
Controls: arrow keys to move left and right, down to dig, up to return to the surface, space to drop a bomb or clear rock. Click the surface base panel to buy upgrades and repair.
If you want a quick win, sell mid sized loads instead of trying to cram one huge haul. Also, use bombs sparingly and head up before your fuel gets scary low, or you will be that sad pod stuck at the bottom.
Similar games
- Gem Miner
- Motherload 2
- SteamWorld Dig
- Deep Town
- Dig Dug
