When comparing SteamWorld Dig vs Spelunky, the Slant community recommends Spelunky for most people. In the question“What are the best low-spec PC games?” Spelunky is ranked 35th while SteamWorld Dig is ranked 66th. The most important reason people chose Spelunky is:
Spelunky features 4 player local co-op where players share the same screen, which can get a bit hectic.
Specs
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Pros
Pro Fun, steady progression
As you dig deeper, you receive new items that make progressing increasingly more fun, until you hit the end.
Pro Lovely art style
Pro World is permanently altered as you play through it
To navigate through the world of SteamWorld Dig, you need to dig through the earth, shaping out the tunnels and paths you need to pass through, requiring you to think twice about how to dig so you can get through the tunnel efficiently, and escape when you need to before you run out of power.
Pro Unlimited replayability with a procedurally generated world
Through the use of random generation the game is able to create a different experience not only for each person that plays it but for each time one restarts the game. Which lends to a bunch of replayability.
Pro Up to 4 player local co-op
Spelunky features 4 player local co-op where players share the same screen, which can get a bit hectic.
Pro Provides an interesting challenge by heavily relying on increasing your skill
Spelunky gives the player everything needed to succeed from the start so it is only when the players skills get better will they advance.
Pro Quick sessions so you can play in short bursts
Being that Spelunky is at its heart a roguelike the gameplay sessions can tend to be quick as the player will die quite often. This makes for something that can be played in quick bursts throughout the day. The convenient saving also lends to this as a game that is still ongoing can be quickly saved in order to be picked up at a later time.
Pro Expanded gameplay through mods to improve replayability
Ranging from Mega Man to Metroid, there are a tone of great mods for Spelunky all of which make for a new experience in the game which vastly expands the replayability.
Cons
Con Nice digger, but not really metroidvania
It has stuff to unlock - but you buy most of those options, unlike a metroidvania game.
Also, down is always correct, unlike metroidvania.
Con Beginning of the game is somewhat tedious
Until a few upgrades are acquired and teleporters placed around the map for faster travel, it requires a bit of monotonous mining.
Con Boring
Con Combat mechanics are basic
Combat consists of hitting an enemy with ones pick or drill, which is time consuming and not really satisfying. It is much easier to just go around opponents, even if it takes more time.
Con Co-op is boring and confusing
In co-op this game is very confusing with little instruction on how to play. With little to spice up the game play, it gets boring quickly.
Con Difficult to the point of frustration
Spelunky is pretty difficult and some could say abusive, but with practice and a desire for masochism the game can be mastered.