SteamWorld Dig similar games & best alternatives

SteamWorld Dig

Mac, PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), Linux, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo Switch, Wii U, Xbox One, PlayStation Vita • 2013

Should you play it?

SteamWorld Dig is an action-adventure puzzler with strong Metroidvanian influences set in the SteamWorld Universe. You’ll need to dig deep into the earth, gather resources to upgrade your tools and abilities, take on enemies, solve challenging puzzles and uncover the secrets to save a dying town.

What works
  • Addictive digging and exploration gameplay
  • Charming steampunk western aesthetic
  • Responsive controls and satisfying progression
  • Pleasant soundtrack and sound design
  • Well-balanced difficulty for casual play
Things to keep in mind
  • Short game length and limited replayability
  • Minimal story and character development
  • Tedious backtracking and inventory management
  • Some control quirks (e.g. mining while jumping)
  • Lack of multiplayer or social features

What to play next

Similar games, hidden gems, and fresh directions from this game.

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • SteamWorld Dig 2

  • FAR: Changing Tides

  • Valley

  • Teslagrad 2

  • Braid, Anniversary Edition

  • ANIMAL WELL

  • Scrap Garden

  • Supraland

  • 1000 Amps
Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Teslagrad 2

  • 1000 Amps

  • Bat to the Heavens
If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Exploration

    AETHUS
  • Progression

    My Lands: Black Gem Hunting
  • Autonomy

    A Game About Digging A Hole™

Similarity map

Explore nearby similar games and see why they’re close.

How to use the graph
Similarity map

Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Why this game works” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

  • Purple star: this page’s game — everything on the map is relative to it.
  • Coloured chips: click to highlight games that mainly differ on that motivation; click again to reset.
  • Dotted line: link between this page’s game and the one selected for comparison.
  • Hover a dot for a screenshot preview, score, and top score gaps; click to compare in the panel on the right.
  • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.

Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers (hidden on purpose).

SteamWorld Dig: Broadly representative of its motivational profile, with a few distinct shifts. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Survival, Violence, Competition, Thrill. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Survival. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Intimacy, Expression.

Why this game works

A motivational profile of the game, with the closest similar game for each player motivation.

  • Autonomy

    Game with the same Autonomy vibe

    4

    "Players freely choose how and where to dig, upgrade tools, and explore at their own pace without imposed routines."

    Capsule for A Game About Digging A Hole™ A Game About Digging A Hole™

    "Players freely choose where and how to dig, explore optional caves, and decide upgrade paths."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    3

    "Progression through upgrades and mastering digging mechanics provides a satisfying sense of skill and effectiveness."

    Capsule for A Game About Digging A Hole™ A Game About Digging A Hole™

    "Progression through skillful digging, managing resources, and overcoming environmental challenges."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -4

    "Focus is on personal exploration and progression without any player-vs-player or leaderboard elements."

    Capsule for Wretched Depths Wretched Depths

    "Focus is on individual exploration and progression without player-vs-player or leaderboards."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    2

    "Players enjoy the gameplay loop and replayability, though some find it repetitive and short, leading to moderate habitual play."

    Capsule for ORDER 13 ORDER 13

    "Addictive digging loop encourages repeated play, though game length is short and replayability limited."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    -5

    "Single-player experience with no multiplayer or cooperative elements."

    Capsule for Blasphemous Blasphemous

    "Single-player experience with no multiplayer or cooperative elements."

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    2

    "Players customize strategies and upgrade paths, but game structures and maps are predefined with limited creative building."

    Capsule for Turmoil Turmoil

    "Players create their own paths by digging, but within a fixed map and predefined upgrade system."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -5

    "No social dominance or power over others; purely solo experience."

    Capsule for [Chilla's Art] Aka Manto | 赤マント [Chilla's Art] Aka Manto | 赤マント

    "No social dominance or power over others; purely solo experience."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    4

    "The immersive steampunk world and survival mechanics provide a strong escape from reality."

    Capsule for Volcanoids Volcanoids

    "Provides a relaxing, immersive escape into a steampunk mining world."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily for enjoyment and exploration, not out of obligation."

    Capsule for Olija Olija

    "Players engage voluntarily for fun and exploration, not out of obligation."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    3

    "Encourages exploration of new areas, trying different activities, and discovering secrets at own pace."

    Capsule for Aka Aka

    "Encourages trying different digging routes, upgrades, and exploration strategies."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    5

    "Core gameplay revolves around discovering new underground areas, secrets, and story elements."

    Capsule for AETHUS AETHUS

    "Core gameplay revolves around discovering new areas, secrets, and caves underground."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    -3

    "Limited customization; players control a fixed robot character with no avatar personalization."

    Capsule for BEEP BEEP

    "Limited customization; mostly standard robot avatar and fixed upgrade paths."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    3

    "Set in a fictional steampunk robot world with imaginative storytelling and characters."

    Capsule for Machinarium Machinarium

    "Set in a fictional steampunk robot western world with imaginative elements."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    -5

    "No social or community features; strictly single-player."

    Capsule for Mafia: Definitive Edition Mafia: Definitive Edition

    "No social or community features; strictly single-player."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    4

    "Character progression, skill acquisition, and equipment upgrades provide learning and development opportunities."

    Capsule for Frontier Hunter: Erza’s Wheel of Fortune Frontier Hunter: Erza’s Wheel of Fortune

    "Character and equipment upgrades provide clear sense of progression and skill development."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -5

    "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity involved."

    Capsule for World of Tanks Blitz World of Tanks Blitz

    "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity involved."

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -3

    "Requires focused attention during exploration and puzzle solving; not a background or idle game."

    Capsule for AER Memories of Old AER Memories of Old

    "Requires focused attention during digging and exploration; not a background or idle game."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    -5

    "No social or emotional relationship building; solo play only."

    Capsule for Luck be a Landlord Luck be a Landlord

    "No social or emotional relationship building; solo play only."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    -5

    "No leadership or group management elements."

    Capsule for High On Life High On Life

    "No leadership or group management elements."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    5

    "Strong emphasis on accumulating resources, upgrades, and artifacts to advance."

    Capsule for My Lands: Black Gem Hunting My Lands: Black Gem Hunting

    "Strong emphasis on accumulating resources and upgrades to advance deeper."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    4

    "Described as relaxing and enjoyable with a good balance of challenge and flow."

    Capsule for FORWARD: Escape the Fold - Ultimate Edition FORWARD: Escape the Fold - Ultimate Edition

    "Generally a calm, enjoyable experience with a steady pace and no high tension."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    3

    "Satisfying digging sounds and visuals provide sensory enjoyment, though minimalistic overall."

    Capsule for A Game About Digging A Hole™ A Game About Digging A Hole™

    "Pleasant visuals, sound, and satisfying digging feedback provide sensory enjoyment."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    -5

    "No social recognition or status systems present."

    Capsule for Resident Evil 7 Biohazard Resident Evil 7 Biohazard

    "No social recognition or status systems present."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    2

    "Contains a minimal, whimsical narrative that provides context but is not the main focus."

    Capsule for Fly'N Fly'N

    "Simple narrative provides context but is not the main focus."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    3

    "Requires planning routes, timing, and puzzle-solving strategies to progress and unlock areas."

    Capsule for 1000 Amps 1000 Amps

    "Requires planning digging paths, resource management, and puzzle solving."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    -2

    "Low suspense or risk; some challenge but no high tension or excitement."

    Capsule for Plazma Being Plazma Being

    "Low suspense or risk; mostly a relaxed experience with mild challenges."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    4

    "Players feel the game offers good value, especially at discounted prices."

    Capsule for Dungeon Escape Dungeon Escape

    "Good perceived value especially at discounted prices; satisfying gameplay loop."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    -3

    "Minimal combat; focus is on exploration and survival rather than destruction or fighting."

    Capsule for Arctico Arctico

    "Combat is minimal and simple; focus is more on mining and exploration."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    1

    "Some resource management and threat avoidance, but overall low-risk environment."

    Capsule for Lakeburg Legacies Lakeburg Legacies

    "Some risk of death and resource management, but overall low threat environment."

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Last update: 01/06/2026