We do well for mining games, with Spelunky and Steamworld Dig being a couple of the best. A first-person take on the mining game is a little more uncommon, though. Well fret not, as Cave Digger scratches that itch with a pickaxe, bringing you enough POV mining to make a canary sing.
Cave Digger is out now on Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PS4 and PS5, joining the PC via Steam version that has been available for a little while.
Our first thought after seeing the trailer was “this must have been a VR game”, and lo, it originally was on the PC and PSVR. The pickaxe floats into view in a way that makes you want to grab it and start leathering it into some cliff faces. But Cave Digger makes fantastic use of this unusual viewpoint by speeding you between sites on minecarts, showering you with gems after each swing, and generally making the whole experience immersive.
This is a mining adventure that takes place in the frontier town of an alternate universe, so it cherry-picks the best bits from the North American western and space operas, creating a play-space where the unexpected is waiting just under the bedrock. You won’t just be using a pickaxe, then, as lasers and explosives come into play.
As you’d expect from Spelunky and Steamworld Dig, you want to delve further and further to reach the materials that sell for the most. Find something valuable and you can trade it for better mining gear, which keeps you churning through the game loop. It’s worked before, and it looks like it will work for Cave Digger.
Diverging a little from those reference games is the seam of solo storytelling that runs through Cave Digger. There are nine different endings to find, all based on the choices you make, and four discrete and completable mining areas to explore. As the trailer is at pains to show, there’s also a companion to stumble across, feed and take with you, in the form of a mimic-like treasure chest.
Features include:
- Explore the elevator shaft and the train tracks to four distinct underground levels, and find mysteries, riches and multiple endings
- 9 endings depending on the choices you make. Can you find them all?
- Upgrade your tools and the train to make them more effective… and shiny!
- A companion Chest to carry your loot and burden
Cave Digger is out now on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. You’ll find it on the Xbox Store for £12.49. It’s also out on PS4, PS5 and PC. Keep an eye out for our review.
Game Description:
Cave Digger PC is a mining adventure game that takes place in a small town of an alternative western universe full of mystery, dark humor and numerous experimental tools for the brave miners. Gear up to explore the town and the depths of the mountain. Excavate the bedrock, reap the rewards of mother earth and trade the mined valuables for new gadgets. How much riches will be enough? Will you be able to stop? What happens if you don’t? The answers to these questions and more will be found as you dig deeper into the mines!
