SteamWorld Essentials Collection

Genre: Compilation

Players: 1

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Review:

SteamWorld Essentials Collection, released in 2025 on PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch, is a Compilation containing six games, every game in the SteamWorld franchise up to this point except SteamWorld Tower Defense, which was only ever released on Nintendo DSi and Nintendo 3DS via the DSiWare service. Otherwise, this is a complete and comprehensive collection of the entire SteamWorld franchise.

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.
Steamworld Dig 2	Platformer	1	A
tl;dr Steamworld Dig 2, like the first game, is a Platformer about a robot in a world of robots digging for treasures in an old mine shaft. It makes good use of Roguelike and Metroidvania elements, and has solid platforming and a unique presentation. However, this sequel improves on the first game in just about every way, with more player options, more varied environments, and a longer campaign with a more interesting story. This is a must-have for fans of Platformers, and a no-brainer for anyone who enjoyed the first game.
Steamworld Heist: Ultimate Edition	Turn-Based Strategy-RPG	1	B
tl;dr Steamworld Heist is a Turn-Based Strategy-RPG with Platformer elements, where you position Wild West-themed robots in shootouts to try to ensure that they have the right trajectories to take out enemies. It’s a unique spin on the genre, but it’s undercut by a lack of character customization and game mechanics that limit the strategy of combat and make missions repetitive. It’s still good, but it should have been better than this.
Steamworld Heist II	Turn-Based Strategy-RPG	1	B+
tl;dr SteamWorld Heist II is a side-scrolling Turn-Based Strategy-RPG that shifts its setting to a seafaring steampunk robot adventure, with a new weapon-based class system that adds some nice customization the first game lacked, along with an excellent soundtrack. There are some pacing issues, but overall this is a step up from the previous game, and absolutely a game that Strategy-RPG fans should pick up.
Steamworld Quest: Hand of Gilgamech	Turn-Based Card RPG	1	B
tl;dr Steamworld Quest is a Turn-Based Card RPG set loosely in the Steamworld universe, taking the franchise into the realm of pseudo-medieval fantasy. It is a decent take on its genre that does a good job of incorporating the franchise’s charm, but it doesn’t really excel in any area or take full advantage of the potential the rich setting has to offer. However, it’s still a decent game fans of the genre should enjoy.

In short, everything in this bundle ranges from good to absolutely fantastic, with the highlights being the Dig games and Heist II. There’s also a healthy variety of genres here. If you’ve never played a SteamWorld game before, you’re in for a treat with this collection.

But then the question becomes if these games present a good value in this bundle. Well, separately, these games would collectively cost $135, making this bundle’s $70 price tag an absolute steal. As for sale prices, if you catch every included game on a good sale, the separate prices add up to $26. Meanwhile, the only sale this bundle has received as of this writing was the introductory sale price of $20, making this still a value proposition even when looking at sale prices.

Overall, this is a superb collection of games presented at a great value. If you’ve somehow avoided the SteamWorld franchise until now, this is a great way to dive in, with plenty of variety, no real weak links, and multiple must-play games. And if you don’t have any SteamWorld games yet, I definitely recommend picking up this bundle.

tl;dr – SteamWorld Essentials Collection is a bundle containing every game in the SteamWorld franchise up to this point (except the DSi-exclusive SteamWorld Tower Defense), with six games, all of them ranging from great to fantastic. Plus, this bundle presents a good savings over buying the games separately. If you’ve somehow missed out on this series until now, I definitely recommend giving this Compilation a try.

Grade: A-

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