SteamWorld Video Game Series

The third part of the series, i.e. SteamWorld Heist, followed the path set by its predecessor, so in 2015 it hit the Nintendo 3DS console, and arrived on other devices with a delay. This time the authors prepared a turn-based strategy. Then we got the first continuation in the history of the series, a game released in 2017 SteamWorld Dig 2. Although the title was created with newer platforms in mind, after some time it also lived to see a version for the Nintendo 3DS. In turn, the year 2019 brought the release of SteamWorld Quest: Hand of Gilgamech, which is a turn-based RPG with card game elements.

A kind of new chapter in the history of the series was opened by the game released on December 1, 2023 SteamWorld Build, which is a strategy game of the city builder type. Indeed, this was the first item from under this banner, for which the Image & Form studio was not behind. Indeed, the creation of this project, released for PCs and consoles, was handled by The Station team. However, this did not mean that Image & Form abandoned the development of the series created by them.

In the meantime, the "fathers" of the brand were working on its biggest installment to date, the SteamWorld Headhunterwhich is an action adventure game with an emphasis on multiplayer gameplay. Although work on it was halted, in April 2024 we learned that it was not Image & Form's only project. Indeed, in parallel to it, the studio was working on SteamWorld Heist II, a sequel to its 2015 game, standing on the borderline between RPGs and turn-based tactical strategies.

The common denominator of all games in the series SteamWorld is a universe that combines elements of post-apocalypse, steampunk and western. Humans who managed to survive the collapse of civilization have degenerated, becoming troglodytes who have more in common with zombies than with their great ancestors. Their place has instead been taken by robots, whose society is thriving. The visual layer of the games in the series is maintained in a colorful, eye-pleasing cartoon style. While most of them have two-dimensional graphics, SteamWorld Headhunter is the first installment of the series to run in full 3D.

Productions under the banner of SteamWorld are held in high regard by gamers and reviewers, as evidenced by the mostly "very positive" (or even "overwhelmingly positive") reviews on Steam, as well as average ratings from industry media, which, according to Metacritic, are most often in the 75-90/100 range.