Posted: April 25, 2015
Early Access Review
Wall of text - TL;DR at the bottom
I would strongly recommend Deepworld to anyone who is a fan of the sandbox genre, and to anyone who likes steampunk, and to anyone in general. It's quirky artstyle and unique gameplay make it one of a kind in the sandbox genre
Whilst it may not have some of the features that other sandboxes have, Deepworld has its own unique gameplay, and has come a huge distance since I first started playing in early 2013. The game is still evolving, and its development heavily influenced by player suggestions.
Remember also before criticising the game too harshly, that this is an early access release, and there will be bugs.
Also, Premium is an extension of the game, and for only $3 is more than worth the cost given how much effort and time has been put into the game. I for one definitely prefer to pay a small amount of money, then be plagued by Game of War adds. Many people complain about pay to win games - almost every functional item in Deepworld can be looted, crafted, or traded for without spending a single cent.
Back to gameplay however...
If you like creating gigantic structures, and proudly displaying them, then Deepworld is a game for you.
As someone who has played the game for quite a long time, the engineering mechanics of Deepworld are limited solely by your imagination.
Want to build a massive password protected vault? You can (with enough creativity - although its a lot easier now than it was 2 years ago :P)
Want to build an epic parkour course? Do it!
Want to construct a PvE combat arena? You can!
Also addictive about the game is the looting system and the constant generation of new worlds, each full of new resources. Super rare items exist for all you collectors, and there is an ever expanding collection of craftable items.
The levelling mechanic reinforces Deepworld's RPG experience, with stat point allocations that makes every character unique. On top of this is the growing number of player customisation items.
Finally, there is a sense of immense satisfaction about looking around a world (Deepworld Server) at the end of the day, taking in that newly purified air and looking at the town that you rebuilt from ruins. That feeling, at least is why I play Deepworld. To create, restore, and exceed what has been previously done.
TL;DR:
Great mechanics and Unique art style
Only limited by imagination
Lots of items + super rare items
Endless sandbox
Levelling system makes character unique
Still in early release, so yes, bugs are a thing.
You might beg to differ, but Deepworld is my favourite game ever, and it's the one I keep coming back to.
Give it a go. Whilst you might find it takes time to get used to, keep at it, and it'll be an incredibly rewarding gaming experience.