izigame.me

This is a review of the initial early access version of the game. There will likely be updated opinions as the game updates and grows, but the game is really, REALLY well constructed so I wanted to shortly give my thoughts on it here.
Tl;dr: Buy the game if you enjoy a really satisfying and relaxing progression experience, with mining, base-building, and upgrading as the strong points of the game.
Me and my partner, who I gifted the game to, stayed up til 1 am JST for the release, having played and finished and loved the demo earlier that day. The gameplay loop hooked me then, and it has hooked me now. The game can be split into three core phases: mining, returning, and upgrading. You get materials, you make the treacherous journey back to your base (digging up is harder than digging down), and you use those materials on something. Unlike other games in the genre (like Core Keeper or Minecraft), the progression system is slow and deliberate. You can *try* to get the best gear as fast as you can, but it is incredibly difficult and time-consuming without the relevant upgrades. This raises the skill ceiling, challenging the player to be as careful as possible when making trips up and down the mines.
Also, as you may have noticed, the artstyle is brimming with personality and style. The music is great too.
There's a ton I haven't even experienced yet, like the faction system, base-building, later weapon upgrades, and so on. For an early access game, there's PLENTY of content here to keep you busy for several, several hours.