A Game About Digging A Hole™ is a simulator game in which you dig for treasure in a garden. You are digging because the main character bought a house that advertised a gold treasure in the garden. On this premise, the main character buys it in the hope of finding it. From this, you start digging for the treasure.
The gameplay is mainly focused on digging. This is an ok premise for the game, but at the start, it’s all about grinding. For the first part of the game, you are digging a hole in the garden to get material to sell. However, the game does become a repetitive chore. Since the game is largely about clicking into the ground, digging in, going deeper, or extracting materials. After you have a full inventory or have low energy. You then have to go into your workshop area and sell everything on the computer. Afterwards, you use the workbench to get more energy or to improve equipment. Alternatively, you can buy lights to see in the later levels. You can also buy dynamite at the workbench to remove rocks/lava.
In this game, you are given various items to upgrade. I tended to upgrade the shovel more than anything else. The more you can dig, the quicker you can find materials. Later on, if you upgrade the shovel enough, it becomes an automatic drill when the mouse button is held down. I also upgraded the storage so I could carry more cash on each run. It is also wise to replace the battery regularly. Mostly so I can get more done each run and not run out of energy. Lastly, having a jetpack is obligatory to get back to the workshop, especially later on in the game.
At the early stages of the game, it feels repetitive, with gameplay focusing on digging for items like stone or coal. Later, you can obtain various metals and find chests containing money, lights, and dynamite. In the later stages, it becomes easier, as the game is mostly about reaching the bottom without running out of energy.
Logically, in the game, the best tactic is to dig straight down to the bottom. I did this to save energy in the game. In this game, if you run out of energy/health, you lose everything in your inventory. But at times, there can be a rock or lava to stop your progress.
After digging your way to the bottom, the game’s design shifts from digging to stealth. At the bottom, you encounter two rooms with moles that you must avoid, as dynamite is unavailable. In the first room, one mole moves around, and you can hide from it before running to the exit. In the second, more challenging room, there are two moles. Here, you must carefully hide and run to the exit. If a mole touches you, you must return to the bottom and redo the sequence.
After completing the game once, you can restart to unlock additional achievements, which extends its replay value. Many achievements require grinding, such as earning money, using dynamite, digging for keys, or finishing the game in less than 30 minutes. If you wanted to earn all the in-game achievements, this task is achievable in as little as 6 hours.
In short, this is a short game with a simple concept. I think that this game is worth getting on sale if you’re interested in digging a hole in a garden. At full price, it’s the same price as a cup of coffee. However, after earning all the achievements, you probably won’t return to it. Still, if you’re in the mood for a simple, one-sitting experience, it’s a pleasant way to spend an afternoon.
