SteamWorld Build, the latest entry in the charming steampunk series, burrows its way into the city-builder genre with mixed results. While it boasts the series’ signature aesthetic and friendly accessibility, it stumbles over a lack of depth and replayability, ultimately feeling like a pleasant diversion rather than a must-play masterpiece.
What Works:
Charming Steampunk World:
The SteamWorld universe retains its magic, with adorable robot characters, whimsical buildings, and a quirky sense of humor. Watching your little bots scuttle around, producing cactus water and sparkling oil wine, is undeniably delightful.
Graphics: 8
Sound: 7
Controls: 6
Story: 6
Engaging: 5
Overall: 6.4
Accessible City Building:
SteamWorld Build simplifies the genre’s complexities, making it a great entry point for newcomers. Resource management is straightforward, production chains are clear, and building placement feels intuitive.
Layered Gameplay:
The addition of underground mine exploration adds a welcome twist, offering resource extraction, tower defense elements, and a bit of light puzzle-solving.
Relaxing Experience:
The pacing is gentle, with no real threats or disasters to worry about. You can lose yourself in the joy of building and watching your town thrive at your own pace.
What Doesn’t:
Lack of Depth:
Despite its layered design, SteamWorld Build rarely challenges veteran players. Decisions feel repetitive, with minimal variation in buildings, production chains, and town layouts. The game rarely demands strategic thinking or optimization.
Short Campaign:
Completing the main objective – building a rocket to escape the dying planet – can be achieved in 8-10 hours, depending on your pace. While there are multiple maps, replayability suffers from the lack of deeper systems and meaningful unlocks.
Story & Characters:
The narrative is a bare-bones framework, and the robot characters, while cute, lack the fleshed-out personalities and emotional impact found in other SteamWorld games.
Limited Sandbox:
There’s no sandbox mode or post-game content, restricting players who want to continue building and experimenting after the campaign ends.
Overall:
SteamWorld Build is a decent city builder with undeniable charm and accessibility. It offers a relaxing experience with a unique twist, but the lack of depth, replayability, and a compelling narrative hold it back from reaching its full potential. If you’re looking for a lighthearted city-building adventure, especially for newcomers to the genre, SteamWorld Build is a pleasant pit stop. But for veterans seeking complex systems and endless playability, it might feel like a shallow dig in a familiar mine.
Recommendation: Try it if you’re a casual city builder enthusiast or a SteamWorld fan seeking a charming diversion. Otherwise, wait for a deeper discount or consider more complex alternatives.