SteamWorld Build Reviews

SteamWorld Build is ranked in the 67th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
9.5 / 10.0
Nov 27, 2023

Great for both Citybuilder Noobs and Experts, SteamWorld Build offers a highly-replayable game with multiple maps and difficulties for players to take on.

Read full review

7 / 10.0
Jan 14, 2024

A charming city-building simulator that is spoiled by the short duration and excessive simplicity of the gameplay.

Review in Russian | Read full review

7 / 10.0
Dec 1, 2023

And with each one of these you'll be picking up buildings and moving them from one part of the city to another to meet that unit's specific needs. Once you make it underground, SteamWorld Build is a delight, but any time spent on the surface is filled with mild frustrations that slowly add up and leave me yearning for the mines. It should come as no surprise, I suppose, that SteamWorld is at its best when you're digging.

Read full review

Dec 6, 2023

I enjoyed SteamWorld Build a lot, but it’s not essential. Perhaps that’s why, 13 years later, this overall property is still searching for that breakout hit that will elevate it from indie charmer to a major property. The elements are all there: the theme, the quality aesthetics, and the maverick ability to move between genres while interpreting them in an accessible and engaging manner. But the developer really needs to figure out how to tell a compelling, deep and purposeful narrative with all these components. It’s the glue that’s missing from making SteamWorld memorable.

Read full review

GameGrin
PEZH J.
Top Critic
6.5 / 10.0
Nov 28, 2023

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.

Read full review

9 / 10
Nov 27, 2023

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.

Read full review

8.5 / 10.0
Nov 27, 2023

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.

Review in Slovak | Read full review

70 / 100
Nov 27, 2023

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.

Read full review

7.1 / 10.0
Dec 9, 2023

SteamWorld Build is a relaxing simulation game that may lack challenge but it has plenty of heart. Watching your town and mine facilities expand to a bustling interconnected industry is satisfying stuff although once you reach the end, you'll likely never pick it up again. 🏜️

Read full review

Dec 27, 2023

Steamworld Build is the very first game in the franchise, which spans multiple games across multiple genres, to be made by a different studio, and it’s unfortunate that it also happens to be, in my opinion, the weakest of the bunch. That doesn’t mean it’s not still a pretty good time though, and certainly a good addition to the Game Pass catalogue. Maps that pushed you to build a bit more creatively and a slightly less stiff progression system could have elevated this one up to a four, I reckon. Still, it’s well worth playing if you already have Game Pass or if you’re maybe a grizzled city-building veteran who fancies something a tad simpler before they delve back into spreadsheets and optimal street layouts.

Read full review

Liked
Dec 5, 2023

SteamWorld Build is still a lovely merger of streamlined city-builder and dungeon delver.

Read full review

8 / 10.0
Nov 29, 2023

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.

Review in Portuguese | Read full review

3.5 / 5.0
Nov 30, 2023

Its early hours are a delightful exploration into a well-executed city-building mechanic, complemented by engaging underground mining operations.

Read full review

7.5 / 10.0
Nov 30, 2023

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.

Read full review

8 / 10.0
Nov 29, 2023

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.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

8 / 10.0
Nov 29, 2023

Taking the SteamWorld franchise in a very different direction, mixing together city management with a bit of Dungeon Keeper

Read full review

8 / 10.0
Nov 27, 2023

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.

Read full review

Nov 28, 2023

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.

Read full review

4.2 / 5.0
Nov 27, 2023

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.

Read full review

90 / 100
Nov 27, 2023

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.

Read full review