I’m so happy that we as a society have made what I like to call the “4 guys” genre. You and your mates, just doing some task with varied success. From Phasmophobia to Lethal Company to Helldivers 2, there’s a rennaissance of games just about enjoying absurd experiences with friends.
The recently-physically-released Deep Rock Galactic is no different. As a game about space dwarves, it takes a slightly different bend to the formula. Tasks are ultimately much simpler than sussing out the location of a ghost or defending the front of democracy. You’re mining, and you’re killing anything that’s getting too close to said mining operation.
The Zen of Just, Like, Digging A Hole, Man.
To its credit it’s a lot more chill as a result of this. The rest of this genre is often burdened with purpose- you need to complete the task to win. But the fact of the matter is is that mining isn’t a precise art. A lot of your time is just going to be spent looking for the thing you’re meant to be mining for, with solutions that can range from “explore the cave network to find ore” to “dig yourself a massive stone staircase through the wall to get to a creepy bug egg”.
Of course, don’t mistake the chill vibes of Deep Rock Galactic for simplicity. The game actually boasts some intesnes customization, with many a wiki post dedicated to making builds of the game’s major classes. I really like how they’re designed- while each class excels at an aspect of Deep Rock Galactic’s gameplay, the fact you can also play the game solo means that they also have to actually be usable for the others. Catch me with the driller, using it to tear through walls and ceilings and also the occasional bug that’s feeling himself a little too much.
The result is almost two distinct experiences for players- solo, it’s an immaculately chill game about exploring big caves and digging up rocks. With friends, it suddenly takes on a more tactical bend, as you’ll suddenly be able to ask them for tactical ziplines or work together to unlock jump boots via frustrating minigames.
The Inherent Fun Of Space Dwarves
My point is you never feel like you’re missing something- the problem with a lot of co op games is trying to go it solo always makes you realize how it was designed around having other people around. But through a mix of interesting cave design, well-made kits and a helpful drone companion Deep Rock Galactic feels fun no matter what scale you’re playing it at.
A lot of the game’s biggest gripes are simply down to taste. Any questions about its handling, for example, can be answered by a simply saying “they’re dwarves”. They’re short, they’re stout and they’re not exactly about to be doing air combos. Is it a credible defense? Kind of? But never the less it helps the game feel unique instead of focusing on a homogenized-but-safe playstyle.
With the physical edition of Deep Rock Galactic now out for PS5, it’s a good time to check the game out. It’s a fun jaunt with friends and an extremely zen experience even alone. Even if all you’re in pursuit of is sick cosmetics, I think the game speaks to a primal urge: to just dig holes and feel companionship.
Final Score: 8/10
Game reviewed on PS5. Physical review copy provided by Soft Source
