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A Game About Digging a Hole is a minimalist experience. Though this makes it straightforward to play and easy to understand, it is sadly lacking in depth. This reduces replay value and longevity and will annoy hardcore gamers. However, this could be right up your street if you want a casual and simple game.
This digging simulation title was developed by Cyberwave and published by Drillhounds. Moreover, it is a single-player title that is perfectly refined. I hadn’t heard of this game before I reviewed it, but it instantly piqued my interest. The thought of exploring deep underground while finding hidden treasure was alluring.
A Game About Digging a Hole has no plot.
Maybe I should have had more reasonable expectations, but A Game About Digging a Hole has no plot. This lack of a story made it hard to lose myself in the action. Additionally, once you unlock every tool, it can be challenging to return for more. As such, though the developer wants their creation to be understated, I think they went too far.
The action focuses on a newly sold house. Hidden under its back garden are gold and other treasures. Accordingly, the protagonist buys the house and starts to dig into the soil with their trusty spade. First, you will uncover stones and basic resources. Yet, the further you travel, the more valuable the resources on offer. But with greater reward comes greater danger. Consequently, you must weigh up each trip underground.
Simple mechanics.
The gameplay loop is simple. Recharge your battery (otherwise you’ll die), refill your health, and start digging in the soil. You’ll collect an array of valuable resources and you will find items and hidden mines deep beneath the surface. As you earn more money, you can upgrade your equipment. This makes it easier to explore further and deeper in search of more valuable treasures.
Though this aspect was great, the upgrades are limited and you are restricted to your jetpack to navigate the world. I’d have loved the opportunity to build ladders and other key structures to traverse the depths. Alternatively, maybe more tools and some challenging hurdles would have made A Game About Digging a Hole more fun.
A Game About Digging a Hole doesn’t shine.
Indie games have come on leaps and bounds. However, A Game About Digging a Hole doesn’t follow this trend. Instead, it has some clunky graphics and a vibrant but sharp colour palette. This works well with the setting but it won’t blow you away. Moreover, navigating the world can be challenging as you catch the scenery and become stuck in the strangest of places.
The audio is pretty refined. The ambient sounds are calm and non-offensive and the sound effects are suitable but not mind-blowing. Subsequently, it does its job without being memorable.
Decent controls.
I played this with a mouse and keyboard and it was easy to master. The layout was basic but I couldn’t find a way to crouch. This was annoying when traversing tight tunnels or avoiding loose rocks.
Replay value and longevity are impacted by the lack of depth. A Game About Digging a Hole is great until you hit the platinum resource layer. Once you hit these depths, you risk running out of battery and dying. The balancing act between exploration and treasure hunting was too restrictive and this becomes frustrating.
A Game About Digging a Hole is fun in short bursts.
This is an addictive and fun indie title. However, you can only tackle it in short bursts. Moreover, the aforementioned issues hold it back. If the developer adds more content and balances the key mechanics, this will be an inexpensive and enjoyable casual game. Accordingly, despite its shortcomings, I recommend buying it here! Can you find the treasure? Grab your tools, dig a hole and hope to get rich.
