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Play Overview
Steamworld Build (2023) is a strategy simulation game where you build and manage a city and underground mine with monsters lurking in the deep. You place buildings, fortify defences, lay roads and then direct civilians to do jobs above ground and in the mines below. It stands out for this multi-level gameplay and how your designs on the surface and those underground must complement each other by providing the necessary equipment and items.
A strange (and doomed) alien world is covered by an arid desert and ancient ruins. You manage a small colony of steam-powered robots setting up an outpost over an old mineshaft and start building a rocket to save you from the disaster. You slowly expand your settlement with more robots, delving ever deeper and expanding ever outwards as you slowly acquire the resources and tools you need.
Play is about building infrastructure chains and directing the robots to complete tasks and gather resources. The materials you gather enable you to create more buildings and unlock new robots and so the cycle continues. While it starts simply, soon careful planning of your town's layout is required to maintain efficiency.
As you progress you realise that your robots have complex needs that require further buildings and resources; keeping all your subjects satisfied is another part of the challenge. Below ground, you direct the robots to mine for resources and expand the shafts, building support pillars and machinery to help them. In lower levels, there are monsters you need to protect your workers against by building defences and weapons.
The result is a game where constant evaluation of the situation and evolving of your strategy is essential. Maintaining order, efficiency, and satisfaction on the surface while simultaneously defending against monsters and gathering resources below ground makes for a tough but rewarding and involving challenge.
Our examiner, Ben Kendall, first checked Steamworld Build 2 years ago. It was re-examined by Thom Robertson and updated 5 months ago.
A strange (and doomed) alien world is covered by an arid desert and ancient ruins. You manage a small colony of steam-powered robots setting up an outpost over an old mineshaft and start building a rocket to save you from the disaster. You slowly expand your settlement with more robots, delving ever deeper and expanding ever outwards as you slowly acquire the resources and tools you need.
Play is about building infrastructure chains and directing the robots to complete tasks and gather resources. The materials you gather enable you to create more buildings and unlock new robots and so the cycle continues. While it starts simply, soon careful planning of your town's layout is required to maintain efficiency.
As you progress you realise that your robots have complex needs that require further buildings and resources; keeping all your subjects satisfied is another part of the challenge. Below ground, you direct the robots to mine for resources and expand the shafts, building support pillars and machinery to help them. In lower levels, there are monsters you need to protect your workers against by building defences and weapons.
The result is a game where constant evaluation of the situation and evolving of your strategy is essential. Maintaining order, efficiency, and satisfaction on the surface while simultaneously defending against monsters and gathering resources below ground makes for a tough but rewarding and involving challenge.
Our examiner, Ben Kendall, first checked Steamworld Build 2 years ago. It was re-examined by Thom Robertson and updated 5 months ago.
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Play Style
This is a Simulation and Strategy game with Action, Creative and Sequencing elements. This is a single-player game.
You can play this game in the following styles:
Benefits
This game is good if you want to:
Age Ratings
Skill Level
11+ year-olds usually have the required skill to enjoy this game. Still, it’s important for parents and guardians to ensure they understand in-game purchases and have spending limits set-up. Managing all the different systems and citizens requires good prioritisation and multi-tasking skills, and a clear strategy and careful thought are both needed when it comes to planning out your town's layout and your next moves.
Costs
Steamworld Build usually costs £19.99 to £24.99.
There are the following additional costs associated with this game:
It's important to set up your accounts and devices appropriately. More information is on our Financial Resources page.
Steamworld Build
 | Xbox X|S | £24.99 | – | Free Xbox Game Pass |
| Xbox One | £24.99 | – | Free Xbox Game Pass |
| PC | £24.99 | – | Free Xbox Game Pass |
 | Switch | £24.99 | – | – |
 | PC | £19.99 | – | – |
 | PS5 | £24.99 | – | – |
| PS4 | £24.99 | – | – |
- In-Game Purchases: Additional in-game purchases are offered for items that enhance the experience.
It's important to set up your accounts and devices appropriately. More information is on our Financial Resources page.
Game Details
Release Date: 01/12/2023
Out Now: PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One and Xbox X|S
Skill Rating: 11+ year-olds
Players: 1
Genres: Simulation, Strategy (Action, Creative and Sequencing)
Accessibility: 0 features documented (Tweet Developer )
Components: 2D Overhead and Grid
Developer: Thunderful Games (@ThunderfulGames)
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