Following the massive success of games like Satisfactory, more and more indie developers have been trying to put their own spin on the automation genre. Some have given automation an anime twist, others have had players work with computers and servers instead of pipes and factories, and even more have tasked players with building in outer space. Steam’s Mithril is the latest of many automation games like Satisfactory, and it too goes in a sci-fi direction. However, instead of having players work on the surface of an alien planet, Mithril has them working underground.
Mining in the caves of an alien planet will likely have many gamers thinking of Deep Rock Galactic, the popular co-op FPS from Ghost Ship Games. This comparison only becomes more apt when looking at some of the actual mechanics of Mithril, as Steam players won’t just be extracting valuable minerals from underground walls, but they’ll be doing so in first-person. As they work, they’ll be attacked by spider-like aliens that look a whole lot like the Glyphids that are so synonymous with the Deep Rock franchise. With co-op coming at launch, too, there’s plenty of overlap between Mithril and Deep Rock, but it also has key differences like an impressive physics system and a focus on automation that should help it carve its own path.
Mithril Release Date & Features List
- RELEASES on December 8
- EXPLORE procedurally generated caves that are full of risks and rewards.
- WATCH carefully for potentially tunnel collapses, as “every stone bears weight” and unscripted danger could strike at any moment.
- TRANSFORM rock using lava, water, and more to create new minerals.
- DESIGN pipelines to extract, process, and deliver resources.
- BATTLE alien creatures that learn from the mistakes of their predecessors.
- PLAY solo or in four-player co-op, either in the base mode with all the bells and whistles or a relaxed Freeplay mode without any hostiles.
How Mithril’s Procedurally Generated World Fights Back
Mithril’s cave system is procedurally generated, with the geology simulated in a way that allows for several interesting possibilities. Examples include “depth-layer rock strata,” some “geologically accurate” rock formations complete with veins, stalactites, and crystal growths, and some distinct properties for each and every material. For instance, if players are seeking out some valuable new resources, they may have to create said resources themselves. They can rely on “hydrothermal heat” when lava hits previously untouched stone, or open a path for water that concentrates minerals “along ancient water tables.” However, doing any of this will be inherently risky.
Drag weapons to fill the grid
Unlike Deep Rock Galactic, which introduces danger from players digging themselves into unexpected combat scenarios or players falling to their deaths, Mithril will make players nervous about cave-ins at every turn. Every stone will bear weight in this game, meaning that if players take too much material too quickly, they can cause an unscripted cave-in that decimates everything in the surrounding area. Players will have to plan for this possibility, using struts to support the ceiling and forging tunnels with proper thought behind them as opposed to just winging it. Additionally, automating as much as possible will be helpful. Players can design pipelines with crushers, furnaces, conveyors, and storage, with mechanical orehands managing the chain and connecting it to other supply lines, just like the best automation games.
Unfortunately for miners, the cave reacting to their poor planning isn’t the only threat they’ll face while out mining. Huge alien bugs will attack the player from time to time, too, which they’ll have to fight off using a mining gauntlet. Visually and mechanically, this futuristic tool resembles the Necrofluid Gauntlet from Call of Duty Zombies, as players can swipe with it using a melee attack or shoot spikes at the hostiles. They’ll create those spikes themselves, transforming the rocky environment with the gauntlet before throwing the material at the bugs. However, the aliens will learn from past mistakes, studying how players attack and where they have set up their base to make future assaults more challenging.
Mithril’s Demo Only Tells a Part of the Story
While Mithril’s Steam demo allows gamers to get a taste of the experience right now, it’s worth noting that not all of the game’s features are present within said demo. Yes, players can mine and avoid cave-ins, and use the neat Dormancy feature, which instantly simulates a million years of changes in the cave, making it feel familiar-yet-new. However, the Memory mechanics for the hostiles are not present in the demo, and neither is co-op, meaning that those wanting to get a group together will have to wait until the game launches on December 6.
Another Mithril feature that arrives at launch is Freeplay mode. This essentially offers the same experience as the base game, except all of the alien hostiles are disabled, allowing players to create their ideal automation setup and master digging stress-free. It is also worth noting that Mithril uses generative AI “in much of its art and audio,” which could explain how familiar some of the 3D models and environment design elements look. Its world generation algorithms, animations, and gameplay systems are the only elements specifically said to be handcrafted, so it’s up to gamers to determine whether that is a deal-breaker or not. For those who are interested in Mithril, its full launch isn’t far off, meaning anyone with a fondness for geology can soon explore an alien cave with their friends and watch it evolve before their very eyes.
