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 - 77 average - 78% recommended - 38 reviews
Critic Reviews
AnaitGames - Víctor Manuel Martínez García - Spanish - 5 / 10
The “steamification” of city management ends up having a shorter fuse than necessary, losing the medium-term interest that seems natural in its genre.
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.
Entertainment Geekly - Luis Alvaro - 3.5 / 5
Its early hours are a delightful exploration into a well-executed city-building mechanic, complemented by engaging underground mining operations.
Game Informer - Kenneth Seward Jr. - 7 / 10
SteamWorld Build is a unique hybrid that entertains for a time. Its early hours are fun, thanks to how well it uses simplified genre staples to create a more arcade-friendly gameplay loop, a sentiment bolstered by a solid tutorial and intuitive control scheme. Regrettably, SteamWorld Build’s campaign overstays its welcome. The lackluster story and rigid final objectives turn what was initially an engaging experience into a tedious grind.
GameBlast - Alan Murilo Pereira Duque - Portuguese - 8 / 10
SteamWorld Build fulfills its mission and delivers a fun construction game with the undeniable charm of the versatile and long-running SteamWorld franchise. A little more depth or challenge would be welcome, of course, but there will always be room for polished experiences that value fun and are capable of welcoming new players with excellence. Recommended.
Despite its shortcomings, SteamWorld Build is a delightful foray into the world of robot cowboys, and there’s a bit of fun to be had with the building and dungeon crawling, even if the tinge of innovation is a little muted.
GameLuster - Nirav Gandhi - 8 / 10
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.
GamesCreed - Kurtis Seid - 4.2 / 5
Steamworld Build has reasonable, average length load times when first starting up. It is impressive that it is seamless to switch between map times with no slowdown or bugs. However, outright crashing is still possible. This tends to happen when first opening a map or exiting back to the main menu. SteamWorld Build is a great sequel for those who liked the previous games in the series.
GamesRadar+ - Sam Loveridge - 4 / 5
SteamWorld Build is proof that the SteamWorld formula can be applied to almost any genre with its mix of city building and dungeon mining combining for quite the treat.
GamingBolt - Ravi Sinha - 8 / 10
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.
Gert Lush Gaming - Jim Smale - 9 / 10
They have effortlessly gone into a new genre and smashed it out of the park so much that it is just as accessible and addictive and a real treat as all the previous Steamworld games.
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.
GuiltyBit - Anastasio Gijón - Spanish - 8 / 10
SteamWorld Build" is an experience capable of enticing SimCity enthusiasts and followers of the Image & Form series. Unfortunately, it doesn’t quite provide that silly dopamine rush that other games from their collection have achieved. Nevertheless, it’s a solid proposal, sometimes even surprising, but it lacks that “something” to match up to its siblings.
IGN - Jon Bolding - 7 / 10
SteamWorld Build is a simple but fun city builder cleverly combined with a dungeon-constructing miner that keeps things quick and casual.
IGN Italy - Stefano Castelli - Italian - 8 / 10
An interesting blend of two game mechanics that lacks a bit of creativity typical of the series yet overall works very well.
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.
La Orden del Pixel - Franco Borgogna - Spanish - Yes
The SteamWorld universe expands with SteamWorld Build, a title that tackles city building in a very accessible way and adds mechanics that suit the genre very well. Those looking for something new within the franchise will hardly be disappointed and, for those who do not know it, it can be an interesting gateway.
LadiesGamers.com - Paula Moore - Loved
SteamWorld Build is a delightful game where you always work towards interesting goals. The combination of city building and mining work in tandem together extremely well. It’s a brilliant pairing of opposites, from the bright sunshine on the surface to popping into the mine, which is dank and dark, with the SteamWorld aesthetic tying it all together.
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.
Nindie Spotlight - Justin Nation - 8 / 10
Taking the SteamWorld franchise in a very different direction, mixing together city management with a bit of Dungeon Keeper
Nintendo Life - Alex Olney - 8 / 10
SteamWorld Build is a beautifully crafted game that seamlessly blends genres and ideas into a polished and premium package. There’s not another management sim like it, but despite it running surprisingly well on Nintendo’s system, it does leave us wanting for more reason to return to it. You’re all but guaranteed to adore your first time through, but subsequent playthroughs may not carry the same magic. Still, with all that being said, this is undeniably a triumph of mechanical marvellousness.
NoobFeed - Michael VanDine - 90 / 100
SteamWorld Build has a charming aesthetic that keeps the player entertained and calm. By no means is this a title that’s trying to showcase itself as some kind of serious hard-core strategy builder. Instead, you are welcome to have fun, to enjoy the character design, and to put a smile on your face. Using cartoonish robot charm mixed with a wild western settler vibe, there’s something for everyone. Harkening back to the idea that a game should be relaxing and fun, SteamWorld Build is a superior choice for the builder genre.
PC Gamer - Robin Valentine - 69 / 100
Relaxing and brisk, but lacking in the substance needed to please genre fans and live up to the SteamWorld name.
PCGamesN - Andrew Farrell - 6 / 10
Steamworld Build delivers an entertaining blend of city building and dungeon crawling, but the two pillars don’t completely gel and myriad annoyances taint the experience.
Press Start - Kieron Verbrugge - 8 / 10
SteamWorld Build is another feather in the series’ cap and another great distillation of genres into a friendly and wholly addictive package. The city building and mining halves come together effortlessly thanks to a pitch-perfect campaign, though with just a single scenario there’s not a heap of longevity. The console version’s awfully-small text also threatens to undo the good done by its superb controls, but in the end it remains another banger SteamWorld game.
Pure Xbox - PJ O’Reilly - 9 / 10
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.
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 - Katharine Castle - 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 Kohút - 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.
Screen Rant - Deven McClure - 3.5 / 5
Despite these missing quality of life features, SteamWorld Build still manages to be fairly addicting. Sense of progress is consistent enough even with occasional moments of waiting, and making discoveries feels rewarding enough to keep things engaging. The varied environments found throughout the game all feel uniquely designed, and accompanied by the blend of ambient sounds and satisfying soundtrack, the world as a whole comes off as intriguingly charming. Though it may not feel absolutely complete in its systems, SteamWorld Build is still a worthwhile venture for players looking for a creative new management sim.
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.
The Switch Effect - Richard Heaton - 4 / 5
There’s a decent amount of content and lore behind the town that you’re building in and the characters. Put the three aspects together and the end product is a game that has a ton of content.
TheGamer - Branden Lizardi - 4 / 5
All in all, Steamworld Build is a great addition to the series, providing a unique but refined take on the city builder genre. Anyone looking for a more complicated, hardcore experience might find it a touch underwhelming, at least until the game really starts to find its feet. Even so, its forgiving nature and slow but consistent feed of gameplay mechanics make it especially appealing to more casual players or folks new to the genre.
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.
SteamWorld Build is an excellent addition to the franchise. The management isn’t too hard for you to learn and doesn’t go out of its way to become challenging. This is thanks to SteamWorld Build not punishing the player with endless tabs, unlike other management sims. The cast of characters’ voices and designs are delightful and well-made for the game. Once I started, I couldn’t stop. The story isn’t complex, which makes a nice change as I find too many games are trying to make their story too philosophical or so complicated that I end up looking at a wiki to grasp some understanding.
The mining aspect of SteamWorld Build is where I spent most of my time, as it felt more engaging than the city-building. Building up small teams to drill and explore the depth below was great, and it reminded me of the Dungeon franchise.
VideoGamer - Aden Carter - 8 / 10
A joyous and relaxing city builder that will make you think
XboxEra - Pieter Jasper - 7.5 / 10
SteamWorld Build is a city-builder with heart that successfully mixes various genres. It is also accessible to players who don’t put hundreds of hours into Cities Skylines and for players who have played many games in the genre it is a cute palate cleanser that can be played through in one weekend. The game offers various maps, but the replayability is what’s going to hold this title back.
I tried the demo months ago, and this is one of my big hype games for December.
It’s so relaxed! And on top of that, it oozes style the same way the other Steamworld games do. And it sounds like they added a whole lot to it.
Awesome! Love to hear it!