SteamWorld Build Review (PlayStation 5)

by Jim Smale · Published November 27, 2023 · Updated November 27, 2023

For this SteamWorld Build Review, we learn that in SteamWorld Build, you must escape a dying planet by building a mining town to dig up vital long-lost technology. Meet the ever-growing needs of your citizens, and trade resources, and defend your mine from the creatures that lurk below.

SteamWorld Build Review Pros:

Decent graphics.
1.32GB Download size.
Platinum trophy.
Controller settings – Invert axis and sensitivity sliders.
Graphics mode – performance and fidelity.
Five locations to play in – Giddyup Gorge, Highroller Dunes, Grand Gully, Tumbleton, and Fossil Park.
Four difficulties – sandbox, casual, balanced, and difficult.
You can name your city.
Game options – tutorials, story, and random minemap.
Animated hand-drawn cutscenes along with in-game interactions.
City builder gameplay.
Save when you want.
The beginning of the game serves as a tutorial as it has you doing a run of how it all works.
Has all the charm of the previous Steam World games.
It’s very accessible and quick to pick up mostly in part to the menu system.
Workers can be upgraded to different tiers of workers allowing them to do different jobs.
The finances chart will show what you are doing well in and what you are low in or losing money with.
The train station plays a vital part as the train turns up periodically (you can see the timer) and with the train, you can trade items, and buy boosters and rubies from the ever-changing stock the train carries.
Randomly over the game world little balls appear and clicking on them gives a random reward like materials or cash.
Game speed button – normal and fast.
As you build and fulfill tasks and requirements you level up your milestones which in turn unlocks new structures and opportunities for growth.
The overworked is where all your workers and structures are built but you do have an underground mining network to set up and is in a lot of ways its own world type.
Excellent voice work.
The game runs really well.
Full 3D camera control with zoom in and out along with full 360-degree rotation.
Clicking on any building will show if they have any demands or fulfillment needs.
Very addictive.
In the mines, you have to build miner quarters for your dudes and you mark where you want them to mine.
The game world planet is not stable so you have to place infrastructure pillars to keep it stable.
Handy button to put a structure next to where it needs to go or if you started building something it would then tag onto it.
The mining is highly addictive as the mine uncovers as you dig, certain miners can dig certain blocks and you can find resources and chests.
Machines can be installed in the mine to automate production.
When unstable the mine will shake and boulders will drop and break things, block routes, etc.
Placing multiples of buildings, quarters or even roads is simple and easy to not only place but also manage and delete.
A surprisingly accessible game.
It’s a thing to behold when you watch your city come to life and see everyone going about their business.
The way they have the menus, stats, and finances laid out makes it easier to manage and know what needs to be done.

SteamWorld Build Review Cons:

Cannot rebind controls.
So much to take in.
The text on tutorial pop-ups is quite small.
I never felt like I knew the science behind where to place pillars to stabilize the mines.
Early on the game holds your hand so much that you have to follow this set path and cannot go off on your own.