Mining Games

I've been on a obsessive streak with 2D mining games. I wanted to take some notes on my experiences with them to better understand what worked for me and what didn't.

Galactic Mining Corp

This is what exposed me to the genre and got me hooked. A adore the quick runs and collectathon mechanics that keep the loop interesting. The rarity of minerals makes the discovery so rewarding, . Unfortunately, the controls and resolution are quite rigid, making this difficult to play on smaller screens/devices. It's a dream on a Desktop with Keyboard and Mouse, but my main device is a Steam Deck now, so I rarely return to this one.

Bore Blasters

The game feel is off the charts on this one. Every single explosion is incredibly satisfying. The game is well polished and features some of the finest pixel art in the genre. Functionally similar to Galactic Mining Corp, but focuses much more on the destruction than the strategic collection of materials.

What stands out to me with this one is the balance it strikes with difficulty. You feel so powerful in this game, but the game pushes back against you in equal measure. It doesn't become a cake walk because you're powerful, it instead matches your power. It works wonderfully and both the satisfaction of your destruction and the pressure of defeat create such a rewarding experience.

My only complaint is that the end game is so long, I think they could've applied the breaks much earlier and wrapped things up at a better pace.

Super Motherload

The floaty physics and smaller hitboxes really stood out to me mechanically. They make the traversal of navigating the pathways more skill-based. It feels great as you improve and are able to move quicker without damaging your vehicle.

Drilling is much more calculated and restrictive compared to the others. Each tile that you mine requires more thought and strategy. Groupings of tiles become small puzzles that require you to mine in specific ways to reach the treasure within. You can very easily lock yourself out of good materials if you aren't paying close attention.

I thought the pacing of this was fantastic. As you dig deeper, you reach new station checkpoints that provide a safe space to refuel. I also found the storytelling quite compelling and appreciated that it never got in my way. Upon reaching the final boss, I found navigating the long path back to the boss quite tedious and the boss itself was very difficult and required a lot of planning and a mastery of everything you learned throughout the game. Knocked the wind out of me a bit, but overall its a very good game.

Dig Dig Drill

The most calm and plain of the set, but charming and well made nonetheless. The expansion of functionality on the surface made the progression very satisfying. Particularly the warps, which help keep the game from becoming tedious.

The killer feature of this one is the drill customization. A tetris-like mini-game where you fit shaped pieces into a grid frame to forge new drill heads. I found myself always looking forward to finding chests to collect parts and discovering the next combinations of features to help me dig more efficiently.

Written on December 4, 2024