SteamWorld Build & Dig Bundle

Genre: Compilation

Players: 1

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Review:

SteamWorld Build & Dig Bundle, released on Nintendo Switch in 2024, is a Compilation containing one of the earliest games in the SteamWorld franchise, and one of the more recent – SteamWorld Dig and SteamWorld Build, previously released on Nintendo Switch in 2018 and 2023, respectively.

I have separately reviewed these games. Here is what I thought of each of the games in this collection:

Game	Genre	# of Players	Score
SteamWorld Build	Management Simulation	1	B-
tl;dr Steamworld Build takes the long-running franchise to yet another new genre – Management Sims. This game has you building up a mining town peopled by anthropomorphic steam-powered robots, while also managing the mining operation underground. Both above- and below-ground feature different takes on Management Sim gameplay, and both are quite good. However, Steamworld Build’s heavy reliance on everything being connected via a complex resource chain makes performing even simple tasks complicated, and while the result is still enjoyable, it’s detail-oriented in a way that not everyone will appreciate.
SteamWorld Dig	Platformer	1	A-
tl;dr Steamworld Dig is a Platformer about a robot in a world of robots digging for treasures in an old mineshaft. It makes good use of Roguelike and Metroidvania elements, and has solid platforming and a unique presentation. This is a game well worth getting.

In short, these are both good games, though I think the clear winner here is SteamWorld Dig, which has a gameplay loop not unlike Terraria or Minecraft, but with a stronger linear focus that has many players comparing it to Metroidvania games. SteamWorld Build, on the other hand, is good but is more complex and demanding in a way that not everyone will appreciate, even fans of Management Simulations. Still, both games are well worth playing.

So, now for my usual question about bundles pertaining to the value. At $35, this bundle shaves $5 off the price of getting both of these games separately – not bad, but not great. The bundle doesn’t look quite so great when you’re looking at sale prices though, as it costs a half a buck higher than the combined sale prices of the individual games.

What that means is that even though SteamWorld Build & Dig Bundle contains two good games, as a bundle it’s lacking, and players are likely better off just waiting and getting the individual games on sale. However, I absolutely recommend you do play SteamWorld Dig at least, one way or another – that game is outstanding.

tl;dr – SteamWorld Build & Dig Bundle, is a Compilation containing SteamWorld Build and SteamWorld Dig, two games from the same franchise that play quite differently. Both games are good, but I think Dig is the clear winner here. However, this bundle isn’t a great savings, and you’re probably better off waiting for the individual games to go on sale and just buying them separately.

Grade: B-

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