Honestly, the Nintendo Switch is basically a museum of "good" indie games at this point. You've got your Hollow Knights, your Celestes, and about ten thousand others fighting for your storage space. But SteamWorld Dig 2 Nintendo owners will tell you something different. This isn't just another "good" game. It's a mechanical marvel that somehow feels even better to play today than it did when it launched back in 2017.
I recently went back and replayed it. Man, it’s snappy.
There’s a specific kind of magic in the way Dorothy moves. Most Metroidvanias start you off feeling like a clunky tank, but Image & Form (now part of Thunderful) decided to give us a protagonist that actually feels athletic. Even before you get the jetpack—which is easily one of the best flight mechanics in 2D gaming history—the simple act of wall-jumping feels like you’re pulling off a parkour stunt. It’s tight. It’s responsive. It’s basically perfect.
The Secret Sauce of the Handcrafted World
A lot of people forget that the first SteamWorld Dig used procedural generation for its main shafts. It was cool for the time, sure. But for the sequel, the devs threw that out the window. They hand-designed every single nook and cranny.
You can really feel that difference in the level flow.
In SteamWorld Dig 2 Nintendo, you aren't just tunneling through random dirt blocks hoping for a diamond. You’re navigating a carefully constructed maze where every rock you break might reveal a hidden cave or a shortcut back to El Machino. It makes the world feel lived-in. When you stumble into the "Trial of Skills" or find a weird little sub-boss in a forgotten corner of the map, you know a human being put it there to mess with you. Or reward you. Usually both.
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The game runs like a dream on the Switch, too. We’re talking a locked 60 frames per second.
- Docked: 1080p
- Handheld: 720p
It never hitches. Even when you’re exploding half the screen with pressure bombs or zipping through the acid-soaked corridors of Vectron, the performance stays rock solid. That’s a testament to how well-optimized the engine is. In an era where even "retro" style indie games occasionally struggle with frame pacing on Switch, this 9-year-old gem still sets the standard.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Upgrades
The common complaint with Metroidvanias is the "keys and locks" problem. You find a blue door, you find a blue key, you go back. Boring.
SteamWorld Dig 2 does something smarter with its "Cogs" system.
Instead of just giving you a new tool, the game lets you customize how that tool works. You find these Upgrade Cogs hidden in challenge caves, and you can plug them into your gear. The genius part? You can swap them out whenever you’re back in town.
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- Want your pickaxe to have a chance to drop extra ore? Plug in a cog.
- Need your pressure bombs to not hurt you in tight spaces? Swap a cog.
- Trying to speedrun and need more water storage for your jetpack? You get the idea.
It’s an RPG-lite layer that actually matters. It transforms the game from a linear progression into a playground for different playstyles. If you’re struggling with a platforming section, you don't just "get gud"—you rethink your build. That’s a level of depth most digging games completely ignore.
Why the Ending Still Hits Hard
I won't spoil the specifics if you haven't finished it, but the narrative connection to the rest of the SteamWorld universe is surprisingly heavy. It bridges the gap between the original Dig and SteamWorld Heist in a way that feels earned.
Dorothy's search for Rusty isn't just a plot device.
It's a genuine mystery that unravels as you descend deeper into the earth. The transition from the dusty, Western-inspired surface to the glitchy, neon nightmare of the lower depths is one of the best environmental storytelling beats in the genre. It’s spooky. It’s weird. It’s peak steampunk.
Pro Tips for Your 2026 Playthrough
If you're picking this up for the first time (or the fifth), here is how to actually master the loop:
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Don't hoard your ore. The economy is designed for you to spend early and often. Upgrade your lantern first. Seriously. Nothing kills a run faster than running out of light when you’re three screens deep in a dark tunnel.
Once you have the Jackhammer, stop trying to pickaxe everything. It’s faster, but it consumes water. This creates a rhythmic "resource management" loop where you’re balancing your light, your health, and your water levels.
Also, keep an eye out for the Yonker Brothers. Finding all of them is basically the ultimate badge of honor for completionists.
Final Insights on the SteamWorld Legacy
We’ve seen SteamWorld Build and SteamWorld Heist II since this game came out, but there’s still something uniquely satisfying about the "Dig" formula that hasn't been topped. It sold nearly ten times more on Switch than it did on Steam during its launch window for a reason. It just fits the hardware.
If you're looking for your next obsession, check your digital library or the eShop. It’s usually on sale for pennies, which is honestly a steal for a game of this caliber.
Next Steps for Players:
- Check your Gear: Head to the workshop in El Machino and see if you have unspent Cogs; many players leave these sitting idle.
- Artifact Hunting: Talk to the archaeologist, Davy Bittenborough. Handing in artifacts doesn't just give you lore; it unlocks the most powerful late-game blueprints.
- The Secret Challenge: If you’ve finished the game, aim for 100% completion to unlock the "Trials of Heaven and Hell," a post-game gauntlet that will test every movement mechanic you've learned.