There's Nothing Underground

About There's Nothing Underground

There's Nothing Underground is a roguelike puzzle adventure from Palomar Games, released in December 2025 for PC. Set inside a mysterious asteroid mining colony, it blends resource management with chaotic problem-solving. You play Gustav, a worker investigating a strange signal, navigating warped environments where time and space glitch. The game’s hook? Randomized tools force creative solutions for over 100 procedurally generated levels. It’s a tense mix of exploration and experimentation, where every descent into the asteroid’s core feels unpredictable. Perfect if you like bending logic to solve puzzles under pressure.

Gameplay

Each run starts with a randomized toolkit, maybe a laser, a magnetic gripper, or a time-reversing gadget. You combine these to bypass obstacles, repair machinery, or stabilize collapsing tunnels. Puzzles often require trial and error; one session might involve freezing a hazard to create a bridge, the next using soundwaves to deflect debris. The roguelike structure means failure resets progress, but unlocks new tools for future attempts. Controls are mouse-and-keyboard driven, with a focus on quick, precise actions. Sessions last 15, 30 minutes, balancing momentum with frustration as warped physics twist expectations.

What Players Think

PlayPile users rate it 82%, praising its inventive puzzles but noting a 42% completion rate. Average playtime is 11 hours, with 17% finishing 100+ levels. Community moods split between “frustrating but fair” (34%) and “addictive” (28%). Critics gave it 7.5/10, calling it “ambitious but inconsistent.” Achievement hunters love the 45 hidden goals, but 68% say they’re overly punishing. One user wrote: “It’s like building a Rube Goldberg machine in a nightmare.” Price at launch was $29.99, with 52% buying it day one.

PlayPile's Take

This game thrives on its chaotic creativity but demands patience. It’s best for puzzle fans who enjoy nonlinear thinking and don’t mind repeated failures. The $30 price tag feels reasonable for the tool-combination depth, though the 11-hour average playtime suggests it’s not a long-term grind. If you appreciate games that punish and reward experimentation equally, it’s worth the trip underground. Just bring a backup toolkit.

Storyline

In 20XX, a massive asteroid hurtles toward Earth—only to stop, hovering above the planet. Within its core lies a wealth of rare materials, sparking a global mining operation that has been extracting resources for 25 years. You play as Gustav, a seasoned worker selected for a high-stakes mission. A strange signal emanates from deep within the asteroid, and a team is sent to investigate. But as you descend into the heart of the asteroid, reality begins to warp. Time and space bend, and your team vanishes, leaving you alone. With no way to return, your only option is to push forward. Will you reach the core and uncover the mystery of the asteroid, or be lost forever in its depths?