Line #12 VideoGame/SteamWorldDig


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/steamworlddig.jpg]]
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3	''[[http://steamworldgames.com/dig/ SteamWorld Dig]]'' is a 2D platforming/adventure game and the first game of its franchise, Franchise/SteamWorld released in late 2013 to PC and the Platform/Nintendo3DS, and later ported to the Platform/PlayStationVita, the Platform/PlayStation4, the Platform/WiiU, and the Platform/NintendoSwitch. Set in a world of {{steampunk}} robots, the game stars Rusty, a steambot who's just arrived at the sleepy desert town of Tumbleton. Equipped initially with just a pickaxe, Rusty explores the depths of his late uncle's mine in search of valuable ores and gems. As his wealth increases, Rusty acquires additional equipment to help him dig deeper and deeper, where he comes across something ''else'' deep below the surface...
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5	Has a direct sequel which continues the story with similar but expanded gameplay, ''VideoGame/SteamWorldDig2''.
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7	!!Tropes found in ''[=SteamWorld=] Dig'' include:
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9	* AfterTheEnd: The game takes place after something destroyed the world, leaving most of the surface as a desert and sending humans underground, with Steambots becoming the main inhabitants of the planet.
10	* AnEconomyIsYou: Tumbleton is populated with handfuls of [=NPCs=] who only exist to service the player character or sell you upgrades, with some only providing dialogue. It's justified, as Tumbleton is in the middle of nowhere.
11	* AntiFrustrationFeatures: Normally, when you die, you respawn at the surface with half your money lost and your minerals dropped where you died, but while in a bonus room, you can die as much times as you like with no cost. And you respawn at the start of the room.
12	* ApocalypseHow: Prior to the beginning of the game, ApocalypseHow/Class2 occured, which forced surviving humans to retreat underground while Steambots occupied what's left of the surface.
13	* BigBad: [[spoiler:Vectron is the one leaving upgrades for Rusty in an attempt to lure someone down to his lair to manipulate to further his goals.[[note]]Also stated he killed Uncle Joe, Rusty's uncle, as well, which his uncle allowed, apparently not wanting to be a part of Voltron's schemes.[[/note]] [[HoistByHisOwnPetard When that didn't work]], it's implied he lived on in his cyberspace and continues to be a problem in the sequels.]]
14	* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler:Rusty defeats Voltbot, absorbing its power and blowing up everything within Vectron, himself included. Dandy builds a statue in his honor, but Dorothy isn't convinced that he's dead and sets off to find him.]]
15	* BodyArmorAsHitPoints: The purchasable health extensions are armor upgrades, implying this.
16	* BodyHorror: [[spoiler:Voltbot attempts to invoke it-- the upgrades Rusty found were deliberately placed there to make him more compatible for assimilation; Voltbot tells Rusty that he's barely himself anymore with all the new parts. Rusty [[ShutUpHannibal tells Vectron to stuff it]], and while he does appear to absorb lots of Vectron's power after destroying it, he's no worse for wear when Dorothy finds him in ''[=SteamWorld=] Dig 2''.]]
17	* BonusFeatureFailure: The game has cross-buy on [=PS4=]/Vita, so you get both versions if you buy one of them. Most cross-buy games have a feature called cross-save which allows you to use the same save on both devices. This game doesn't have such a feature.
18	* CollisionDamage: Touching enemies deals damage to Rusty.
19	* DugTooDeep: Going deeper into the mines starts revealing more unsettling enemies and obstacles, such as the [[TheMorlocks Shiners]] and [[spoiler:the mysterious technology in Vectron]].
20	* EvolvingTitleScreen: After beating the FinalBoss, the title screen changes from a shot of Rusty walking in a desert during daytime to [[spoiler:a shot of him walking in a desert at night with GlowingEyesOfDoom, signifying that something's wrong with him]].
21	* FallingDamage: Occurs before you get the upgrade that stops it from happening. Human enemies aren't immune to it either-- it's possible to kill one by digging the ground out from under them.
22	* FunnyBackgroundEvent: One of the upgrade areas has a background showing a video game store advertising the [[TakeThat imminent]] [[DevelopmentHell release]] of ''VideoGame/HalfLife 3'', with a line of (long-dead) fans camping out front.
23	* GroundShatteringLanding: Fall from a great height onto soil, and you'll crack the ground. Also happens when you dig under a boulder trap.
24	* HeartsAreHealth: Averted with Rusty; while health pickups are marked with hearts, he just has a health bar.
25	* {{Metroidvania}}: Downplayed; at some points, you'll be faced with an obstacle that will require a specific upgrade to pass, but everything is gotten in a linear fashion and secret areas only contain extra minerals and orbs.
26	* TheMorlocks: Disturbingly, it appears all of humanity has degenerated into this. They're known as Shiners by the Steambots and treated as savages, and they don't do much to disprove that fact.
27	* NeverSayDie: Played completely straight in the Steamworld universe. Killed steambots are "scrapped". This is semi-justified since it's completely possible to reassemble a scrapped bot. And it's implied that bots can live for centuries. On the other hand not all scrapped bots get reassembled, it's entirely possible for them to be permanently dead. This is especially apparent in VideoGame/SteamWorldHeist where your entire crew is scrapped in the cold-open. And it's very clear that they're dead for real.
28	* NonCombatEXP: Selling mined materials earns experience for the town, unlocking higher tiers of upgrades and eventually bringing new merchants into Tumbleton. Monsters serve as a way to replenish health, water, or light.
29	* PermanentlyMissableContent: In any given run of the game, it is technically possible to be unable to afford certain upgrades (especially Dandy's more expensive ones) as cash and orbs used for buying them are finite. Half your carried cash is lost upon dying for repairs, and teleporters can be repeatedly bought with orbs (which are much rarer and usually only used for special upgrades). However, if you thoroughly explore, there are enough minerals and orbs to buy all upgrades, buy a few optional teleporters, and even die a handful of times without losing too much. So while certain things might be lost forever for a given run, it's pretty unlikely.
30	* RocketPunch: The Steam Punch upgrade, which allows you to break blocks at a distance.
31	* SequenceBreaking: The Platform/{{Steam}} version of the game has an achievement for destroying the first two generators, which you'd normally only do in the endgame, before reaching the final area. This may sound impossible since accessing these generators requires the DoubleJump upgrade found in the final area, but the trick is to [[spoiler: use [[RocketJump sticks of dynamite]] to propel yourself]].
32	* SequelHook: [[spoiler:Despite defeating Vectron, Rusty never returns to town, leading most of the townsfolk to assume he's dead. Dorothy, however, refuses to accept this, and the game ends with her resolving to find Rusty, whether he's alive or not.]] Notably, ''[=SteamWorld=] Dig 2'' does actually follow through with this sequel hook, with you taking Dorothy to head off to look for Rusty.
33	* ShoutOut:
34	** Rusty is a tin man with a (pick)axe working with a [[GirlishPigtails pigtailed girl]] named [[Literature/TheWonderfulWizardOfOz Dorothy]]. Near the end, [[spoiler:Voltbot mentions it needs his "true heart."]]
35	** In the Old World stage, it's possible to find a half-destroyed video game shop. It's adorned with Half Life 3 logos and posters (It's Finally Here!), and has a line of skeletons in costume who were presumably queing for launch day - shame about the world ending first. One of them is even wearing a [[VideoGame/HalfLife rather familiar HEV suit]]... Also, one of the Steam achievements (for collecting and selling 8 Uranium ores to Dorothy at once) is called "Half-Life 8 Confirmed".
36	* SilentProtagonist: Rusty does talk in this game, but only at two points: The intro level before reaching the main portion of the mine, and [[spoiler:the cutscene right before the final boss]].
37	* SpringySpores: Found in the Old World.
38	* {{Steampunk}}: All technology in the world is steam-powered, including the robots. [[spoiler:Until you get to Vectron, which has electrical machines.]]
39	* ThisIsADrill: One of Rusty's later upgrades, which is just as capable of attacking as the pick and the steam punch.
40	* {{Unobtainium}}: Appears as a high-end treasure, but has no other special function.
41	* WalkDontSwim: Played straight with Rusty.
42	* WallJump: An innate ability of Rusty, which is very useful for climbing up the mines.

Context VideoGame / SteamWorldDig