Dig & Decode

About Dig & Decode

Dig & Decode is a puzzle adventure game where you play a future-era humanoid tasked with excavating ancient Earth for relics. Developed by Barshem Interactive and released in 2025, it’s a single-player PC game that blends digging mechanics with symbol-based puzzles. You sift through layers of soil to uncover artifacts, decode cryptic phrases hidden in the relics, and use them as fuel to power your escape ship. The world is a desolate, overgrown version of Earth, dotted with remnants of forgotten civilizations and cheeky anachronistic jokes. It’s a light-hearted, brainy romp with a focus on quick, bite-sized challenges and a wry sense of humor woven into the relics themselves.

Gameplay

The core loop is simple but deliberate: dig with a handheld tool to unearth relics, then decode their symbols or phrases to turn them into fuel. Each dig site feels like a mini-puzzle, requiring you to rotate and place pieces to reveal readable text. Some puzzles involve matching patterns, others rearranging scrambled letters. You track fuel levels to keep your ship operational, balancing exploration with efficiency. Controls are straightforward, mouse for digging and puzzle placement, keyboard shortcuts for inventory. Sessions rarely last longer than 30 minutes, making it ideal for casual play. The game’s charm lies in its absurd relic descriptions, like ancient graffiti translating to modern slang, which you’ll collect and decode to progress.

What Players Think

Community ratings sit at 4.3/5, with 37% of players achieving 100% completion. Critics gave it an 89, praising its clever wordplay. Average playtime is 11.5 hours, with 68% of players finishing the main story. Community moods are split: 42% curious, 33% entertained, 25% satisfied. One user wrote, “Puzzles are clever but repetitive after a while.” Another added, “The jokes in relics made me laugh, great time sink.” There are 45 achievements, 22 of which require full relic decoding. The game’s 100% completion rate is 37%, and 28% of players report getting stuck on later puzzles. Pricey at $29.99, but 72% say it’s worth the cost.

PlayPile's Take

Dig & Decode is best for puzzle fans who enjoy quick, clever challenges and dry humor. The $30 price tag is average for an indie, and the 45 achievements add replay value. While later puzzles occasionally frustrate, the first 10 hours are a breezy, witty experience. If you want something to play during short breaks or a coffee break, this is a solid pick. Skip it if you crave deep lore or punishing difficulty. Its charm is niche, but the relic gags and low-stakes gameplay make it a worthwhile escape.

Storyline

An abandoned planet for millennia. You, a humanoid from the future, have a mission: dig, find relics, and solve puzzles.