SteamWorld Heist

SteamWorld Heist is a single-player turn-based strategy game with role-playing and shooter elements. The story is set in a future where steambots roam the galaxy, scavenging and surviving aboard rusted ships after Earth has been destroyed. The player takes on the role of Captain Piper Faraday, a space outlaw who leads a band of steambot mercenaries on missions across hostile sectors. The crew boards enemy vessels to raid resources, recruit allies, and stand against threats that endanger their kind. Each mission unfolds as a self-contained scenario where the player must maneuver through corridors, eliminate enemies, and collect loot before escaping.

Gameplay is presented from a 2D side-on perspective. Characters are positioned across gridless ship interiors and move using action points that govern walking, climbing, or taking cover. Combat is turn-based, with characters using firearms and melee attacks aimed manually by the player. Precise aiming allows bullets to ricochet off walls or ceilings, enabling trick shots to bypass cover. Different weapons alter the aiming mechanic, with some offering laser sights and others relying purely on player skill.

Crew members each have unique classes, attributes, and abilities. By completing missions and defeating enemies, characters gain experience points that unlock passive bonuses or active skills such as improved critical shots or grenades. Loot collected from missions can be sold or equipped, with items ranging from pistols and rifles to explosives and stat-boosting gear. Inventory management is central, as each bot has limited slots that force choices between weapons, armor, and support items.

Progression is mission-based, with the player navigating a sector map and selecting contracts to advance the story or earn resources. Difficulty can be adjusted on a mission-by-mission basis, offering greater rewards for taking higher risks. Losing crew members in battle reduces the team’s effectiveness but does not end the game, encouraging careful planning.

The player can visit bars and shops between missions to recruit new steambots, purchase weapons, and upgrade existing equipment. Dialogue sequences between characters flesh out the world’s lore and provide personality to the crew, though choices generally serve to add flavor rather than branching consequences.