Diggergun

About Diggergun

Diggergun is a 2D platform simulator from Kabloop that drops you into a dystopian lithium mine on a Cornwall island. Released in 2025, it leans into indie storytelling with themes of exploitative labor contracts and environmental decay. You play as an engineer tricked into mining lithium, stuck under a £3,000 exit fee by the Cornwall Mining Corporation. The game blends platforming with moral choices: rebel, comply, or escape. It’s a single-player slog through oppressive environments, with pixel-art visuals and a focus on survival mechanics. GrabsTheGames published it across all major consoles, PC, and Mac. Think of it as a bite-sized, thematically bold take on corporate cruelty wrapped in digging gameplay.

Gameplay

Diggergun’s core loop revolves around digging through procedurally generated tunnels, dodging collapsing rocks and toxic fumes. Each session has you managing stamina while jumping between platforms to extract resources. The game forces you to balance efficiency with safety, dig too fast and your tools break; linger too long and the mine’s hazards kill you. Choices matter: hoard supplies for a solo escape, sabotage machinery to spark riots, or trade loyalty for corporate rewards. Combat is minimal, replaced by tense environmental puzzles. Controls are tight but repetitive, with minimal variation beyond digging and climbing. Sessions average 30-45 minutes, punctuated by restarts after deaths. The single-player mode never lets up, pushing you toward one of three endings tied to your in-game decisions.

What Players Think

PlayPile users rate Diggergun 4.3/5, with 68% completing it. Average playtime is 10.5 hours, though 22% of players list "frustrated" as their dominant mood. Determined players (34%) praise its bold themes and tight platforming, while critics gripe about repetitive mechanics. One review calls it "a gripping blend of rage and resource management," while another calls the difficulty "unforgiving for no reason." The game’s 32 achievements have a 72% earn rate, with the "Escape Clause" end goal being the most pursued. Community forums buzz about its real-world parallels, though some argue the narrative outshines the gameplay. Completionists love the branching paths, but casual players often quit before the £3,000 fee’s final payment.

PlayPile's Take

Diggergun is a niche pick for fans of narrative-driven platformers and socio-political critiques. At $19.99, it’s a cheap experiment in oppressive design, literally and thematically. The 32 achievements add replayability, but the 22% frustration rate warns against expecting fun. Best for players who enjoy slow-burn stories and don’t mind restarts. Skip if you crave action or open worlds. For $20, it’s a conversation piece more than a must-play, but its themes and completionist hooks make it worth a shot for the right crowd.

Storyline

After arriving on an island off the coast of Cornwall to work as Engineer, you’re quickly put to work in the lithium mines due to the flexibility clause in your contract. With the Cornwall Mining Corporation demanding a £3,000 fee to terminate your employment contract and take you back to the mainland, you’re left with nothing to do but dig.