SteamWorld Build

Great for both Citybuilder Noobs and Experts, SteamWorld Build offers a highly-replayable game with multiple maps and difficulties for players to take on.

Good for genre veterans and even better for newbies, Steamworld Build is a steamlined, silly, and smooth city-builder that's fun from the first foundation block to the last keystone.

SteamWorld Build has the right balance of complexity and relaxing simplicity.

A great city-building game for beginners who don’t want to be bogged down with complicated systems, there’s a lot to like about SteamWorld Build. It isn’t so simple that it’s boring: the balance between your surface-level town and the mines below means there’s always something to do. Add in the fact that objectives always give you something to work towards, and you’ve got an engaging little timesink with a great sense of progression.

SteamWorld Build doesn't revolutionize the genre, but it's another solid city-builder that plays great on the Steam Deck

Its focus on balancing your economy's scales rather than turning a profit means the stakes are never that high in SteamWorld Build, but this is still a strong and distinctive twist on the upstairs/downstairs loop that made SteamWorld Dig so enticing a decade ago.

SteamWorld Build is yet another triumph from the maestros at Thunderful. Here we have a slick and addictive addition to a wonderful steampunk franchise that manages to meld elements from across the entire series into one cohesive whole. You've got wonderfully detailed city-building, addictive mining action and intense tower-defense aspects all in the mix here, and it tells you everything you need to know about this one that all of these elements work in harmony. Xbox Game Pass just netted itself another banger.

Whether you're a fan of the series or looking for a well-made city-builder, SteamWorld Build has much to offer, even with the odd annoyance or two.

There’s an elegance to city builders that I appreciate. Your fledgling town is a puzzle with constantly moving pieces. Every new addition is an opportunity for something else to go wrong, forcing you on your toes at all times. Yet when things fall into place, it’s positively thrilling. SteamWorld Build is a simple yet satisfying take on the genre. I found it challenging and accommodating all at once. I only wish the game was a bit longer.

SteamWorld Build will scratch that itch of town builder and dungeon crawler alike. It's an easy game to pick up and play, gradually introducing each layer of society and underground mining at a steady pace. A few elements could be improved to help levels flow better, but overall it's a very good experience that digs up yet another new genre for the SteamWorld franchise.

There's no need to gold rush.

Whilst far from being a massive game, Steamworld Build is undeniably likeable. Its genre mixing is ambitious, and well-executed. It is an interesting settlement builder and a quirky Dungeon Keeper-like. But combined, it’s a unique and deeply enjoyable experience; although one that also feels like it’s lacking long-term goals to make the sandbox mode feel worthwhile. Despite this, the game as a whole is worth playing for fans of the Steamworld franchise, and anyone who enjoys a laid back town building game with minimal stress.