In terms of exposure, there’s not much better for a game to be promoted than to have it go on sale for the whopping sum of zero dollars and zero cents. Right now, SteamWorld Dig is doing just that. The adorable 2D side-scroller is currently available to be purchased for free on PC.
Released back in 2013, the four years old SteamWorld Dig is a cute Metroidvania platformer that has you playing as the steam-powered robot Rusty. Having received the deed for a mine from his Uncle, your job is to explore the entirety of your new underground property, including all of the dangerous enemies and traps.
The highly-acclaimed title originally came out on 3DS before being ported to PC and then basically every other current-gen system that’s out right now, except notably the Switch.
That’s not too much of a problem, because the Switch is getting the long-awaited sequel SteamWorld Dig 2 later this month on September 21st, 2017.
Also: The Pokemon Company CEO: “I Told Nintendo That Switch Wouldn’t Be a Success”
Releasing the original game for free on PC makes perfect sense, as it allows many consumers that haven’t had a go at its addictive nature to experience it just in time for the sequel.
This is certainly a way to expose new gamers to the series, while also bringing up the conversation surrounding SteamWorld Dig 2 in time for its release.
The only potential downside is the platform of choice. Though it is available on Steam and other online stores, it is currently only free on EA’s Origin service as part of its On the House feature.
In order to access the game for free, it does require you to have Origin downloaded on your PC. Regardless, free is free and now’s the best time to try out the series for the first time or revisit it in anticipation of the sequel later this month.
Let us know what you think of SteamWorld Dig and its sequel. Does the requirement of Origin turn you off of playing it for free? We’d love to know your thoughts in the comments below.
