Deep Rock Galactic is a gift that keeps on giving
Rock and stone!
You'll always hear this salute whenever you frequent the Deep Rock Galactic (DRG) Discord or subreddit. Usually, someone will start with this message, and another will follow, creating a chain of "Rock and stone!" responses in the thread. It's a fun sight to see because it encapsulates what makes DRG one of the last fun games in the world: a combination of balanced game design, wholesome community, and caring developers.
Deep Rock Galactic is a first-person horde shooter where you are a space dwarf employed by the titular company. As a mining company, you get sent to the alien planet Hoxxes IV to mine precious minerals. Of course, the inhabitants of this planet don't take kindly to your arrival, so each mission is hazardous and life-threatening. Doesn't matter; you get booze and barrel shooter (probably the equivalent of unlimited coffee and ping-pong tables) in the space rig anyway! Albeit the Marxist1 and big corpo undertones, DRG as a game has a very comic and wacky vibe.
With its infinite replayability and good ol' wacky fun, DRG is probably one of the best multiplayer games around. You're missing a lot if you're not playing this game! Ghost Ship Games has made something special here, and it's a gift that keeps on giving.
Balanced game design
Where DRG shines is in its balanced gameplay. You can play it with up to four players, and I recommend playing with friends. For each mission, you can choose between four available classes: Gunner, Engineer, Driller, and Scout. Each class has its own set of weapons and traversal tools. Because every mission is procedurally generated, a large part of the core gameplay loop is problem-solving: how do I get from point A to point B to finish this objective? In addition, you are provided with traversal tools that exemplify balance and synergy. For example, you can combine a Scout's grappling hook with an Engineer's platforms so the former can reach minerals high up in the ceiling. Finally, as you complete your objectives, you shoot down hordes of bugs in all shapes and sizes as they harass you towards your goal.
DRG's classes are exceptional because each dwarf has a chance to shine. The Gunner, my favorite class, lacks mobility but packs a punch with constant DPS and bubble shields. I can also create several builds with my Gunner to match any mission type. For example, I go all-in on single-target damage during elimination-type boss battles or bring an area-of-effect (AoE) damage over time (DoT) build during escort duty. Apart from high hazard missions, my builds are more for creative expression than optimization. Even if DRG only has four classes, you can build them such that they work to your liking.
Wholesome community
Synergy is built in the core gameplay loop, making teamwork and cooperation a natural behavior in-game. The community is incredible: I usually play with randos in public lobbies, and I only had sporadic encounters with some bad apples. True to its lore, since everyone is employed by the same oppressive company, there's only camaraderie amongst dwarves. At the end of each mission, you get the same rewards no matter how many bugs you killed or minerals you mined. Carrying in DRG is not about being the best; it's about being a good team player to bring the mission to success.
Communication is vital for mission success, and DRG has implemented it perfectly. There's a ping system where you can point to any bug, mineral, and environment to create visual and audio cues. Sure, there's a chat and voice system, but you won't need it 99% of the time. The variety of interactable objects makes cooperation seamless.
When put together, DRG's cooperative systems bleed into the community as a whole, making it wholesome and positive. I know that I'm speaking from experience, and I don't want to discount anyone's bad experience with DRG. However, I hope this positive interaction persists as the community grows.
Caring developers
I think the majority of DRG's success is due to how the developers, Ghost Ship Games (GSG), avoided the traps of other games in the genre. For example, it's very easy to fall into capitalizing fear of missing out (FOMO) via loot boxes, paid battle passes, and gated progression. However, GSG avoided that by subverting these tropes into something that's not exploitative:
- There are "loot boxes" in the form of cargo crates. However, you don't buy them with real money. Instead, you find them hidden in some missions. These cargo crates only contain accessories and cosmetics, not game-changing mechanics or weapons.
- Each season has a battle pass, allowing you to unlock cosmetics and in-game currency. However, this battle pass is free and gives you ample time to complete it. Moreover, there's no FOMO in DRG's battle pass: after the season ends, the contents of the battle pass go into the shop (paid by in-game currency) or in cargo crates found in-game.
- The only gated progression is the promotion system that you only have to do once for each class. In my experience, promoting a class only takes 8-10 hours of play. After promoting, you unlock an extra perk slot (passive or active abilities) and gain access to the more challenging pieces of content called Deep Dives. After that, the promotion is just for cosmetics; you gain a colored banner in your name that doesn't affect gameplay.
It's a miracle that in this time of exploitative game companies, you have an indie studio that strives to be a model for all. It's funny to think that Deep Rock Galactic, a game about an exploitative corporation, has the most caring company handling it.
In the end, Deep Rock Galactic, with its combination of balanced game design, wholesome community, and caring developers, is one of the best multiplayer games of this time. So what are you waiting for? I'll see you in the mines of Hoxxes IV. Rock and stone!
Rating (Almost Perfect): 🍚🍚🍚🍚½ (Playtime: 631 hours, PC)
Subscribe to my blog via email or RSS feed.