In Junji Ito’s chilling manga, The Enigma of Amigara Fault, individuals are inexplicably drawn to human-shaped holes in a mountainside, each compelled to enter their own personal, terrifying crevice. While the allure of a pre-made abyss might captivate some, for others, the true magic lies not in finding the perfect hole, but in creating it. If you’ve ever felt that secret, almost primal, urge to join a gleefully digging dog in the garden, then “A Game About Digging A Hole” might just be your new favorite indie gem.
This charmingly straightforward title, developed by DoubleBee, taps into that fundamental, almost mischievous joy of excavation. It understands that sometimes, the simplest pleasures are the most profound.
From Humble Lawn to Subterranean Empire
“A Game About Digging A Hole” begins with a modest premise: you’ve bought a small, surface-level home. But the real estate isn’t the prize; it’s the rumors of buried treasure in the garden that truly matter. Armed with a trusty shovel, your mission is clear: dig. Somewhere beneath the pristine lawn lies untold riches (or so the legends say), and that’s all the motivation you need.
There’s an almost illicit thrill, like sneaking a forbidden treat, as you take that first scoop of virtual soil. The game handily makes unearthed dirt disappear (sorry, hardcore realism fans!), but you do need to manage your resources:
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Battery: Powers your digging efforts.
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Health: Can deplete if you, say, carelessly fall into the ever-deepening chasm you’re creating.
Learning the hard way (much like in Minecraft), a straight-down approach without an exit strategy can be perilous. Thankfully, if you run out of battery while stuck, you’re teleported back to the surface, albeit without any of the precious stone or metals you might have unearthed. These treasures can be sold in your garage, with the profits reinvested into:
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Healing and recharging your battery.
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Upgrading your gear: larger battery capacity, more inventory slots, a wider digging radius for your shovel.
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Essential (and fun) tools: a jetpack (crucial for escaping deep holes, though a battery hog), single-use lamps, and dynamite.
The Satisfying Loop of Delve, Sell, Upgrade
As you dig deeper, the materials you find become more valuable, and upgrades predictably more expensive. “A Game About Digging A Hole” settles into a wonderfully addictive gameplay loop: dig as deep as your battery allows, jetpack back to the surface, sell your haul, upgrade, and repeat.
For the inner goblin in all of us, this is pure bliss. The only minor quibble for some might be the need to purchase lamps to illuminate the Stygian depths you’ll inevitably reach. Yet, even a profound love for the subterranean doesn’t quite extend to working in total, sun-starved darkness.
More Than Just a Hole: A “Religious Experience” for Digging Devotees
At this point, you understand the core mechanics of “A Game About Digging A Hole.” The only mystery remaining is the nature of the treasure itself – and that’s a discovery best made firsthand. If you share even a fraction of the author’s enthusiasm for a well-dug pit, you’ll find immense satisfaction in every plunge of the shovel. The very idea of transforming a minor pothole into a cavern of Moria-esque proportions will feel like a delightful transgression.
The game’s Steam page is a testament to its appeal, filled with glowing reviews from players who “Just Get It.” Praise ranges from calling it “a religious experience” to users grappling with an awakened “primal instinct” to dig.
“A Game About Digging A Hole” is a short experience – expect an hour or two of playtime. But at a mere $3.99, it offers exceptional value, delivering precisely what it promises on the tin. And, having perhaps experienced the back-breaking reality of digging (say, for a patio), you can rest assured this virtual alternative is far less strenuous. More importantly, it captures that unique sense of playing god, of reshaping the very earth beneath your feet and carving out your own subterranean domain. Maybe, just maybe, our canine companions are onto something profound.
“A Game About Digging A Hole” is available now on PC via Steam. If this whets your appetite for more indie goodness, check out our list of upcoming indie games we’re most excited for.
