SteamWorld Build Review Thread

Game Information

Game Title: SteamWorld Build

Platforms:

PC (Dec 1, 2023)
Nintendo Switch (Dec 1, 2023)
Xbox Series X/S (Dec 1, 2023)
PlayStation 5 (Dec 1, 2023)
Xbox One (Dec 1, 2023)
PlayStation 4 (Dec 1, 2023)

Trailers:

Developer: The Station

Publisher: Thunderful Publishing

Review Aggregator:

OpenCritic - 79 average - 78% recommended - 10 reviews

Critic Reviews

Checkpoint Gaming - Victor Tan - 7.5 / 10

SteamWorld Build sets up a fantastic environment for Wild West robot capitalism to thrive. You must create workers to build enough resources that support your mining operations, which in turn helps develop your city. Expand your operations above and below ground to get more workers and new resources. While there isn’t anything ground-breaking in this game and it can be repetitive, it still offers good fun for people who enjoy city builders. If you are looking for a strategic challenge that makes you balance two types of city building, SteamWorld Build is a great game to try out.

God is a Geek - Chris White - 9 / 10

SteamWorld Build is a deeply compelling city management title that adds new mechanics all the time, keeping you hooked throughout.

Kakuchopurei - Xandria Morden - 90 / 100

Every aspect of Steamworld Build feels meticulously designed. The goals are clearly emphasized so you don’t get lost. Even dragging and dropping units is satisfying, and arranging paths or placing mining equipment functions perfectly well. The interaction between the above-ground and below-ground elements feels well-paced and thoughtfully designed. The familiar art style of the series shines through in every little detail, with its bright and eye-catching colours that make every aspect of the game absolutely loveable.

New Game Network - Alex Varankou - 70 / 100

SteamWorld Build is a sufficiently well-designed management game that is initially engaging with a good blend of underground exploration, but it eventually becomes a bit repetitive and is over rather quickly, without much motivation to start up another town.

Push Square - Jenny Jones - 8 / 10

SteamWorld Build is a delightful and very satisfying foray into the city-building genre. The two gameplay modes complement each other well, offering two very different but equally pleasing ways to gain resources. While we do wish the story could’ve lasted a little bit longer, the addictive gameplay and slick presentation makes it very easy to recommend.

Rock, Paper, Shotgun - Unscored

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.

SECTOR.sk - Branislav Koh�t - Slovak - 8.5 / 10

The new game from the steampunk universe with robots is city building spiced up with Dungeon Keeper-style mining. It works well. If you like to tinker with houses and resources, fun is guaranteed.

Siliconera - Elliot Gostick - 6 / 10

SteamWorld Build is a charming city builder with some fun ideas that just fails to capture what makes the genre compelling. PC version reviewed.

TechRaptor - Rutledge Daugette - 9.5 / 10

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

TheSixthAxis - Aran Suddi - 8 / 10

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.