File 01 · Co-op shooter review
Deep Rock Galactic
A co-op mining shooter where the cave is the puzzle, the swarm is the clock and nobody gets left behind.
Save Point
score
Deep Rock Galactic drops up to four dwarven miners into a procedurally generated cave, hands them a job sheet and turns the lights off. Everything you see is destructible. The Driller melts straight through walls, the Scout grapples to the ceiling and fires flares into the dark, the Engineer builds platforms where no floor exists, and the Gunner strings ziplines across chasms while holding the line. No class is the hero; every class is the missing piece of somebody else’s plan.
What makes it special is the rhythm. Missions breathe: quiet minutes of digging and route-finding, a swarm warning, a frantic defence, then a sprint back to the drop pod with the timer running. Because terrain is never the same twice, a familiar objective still asks a fresh question. Playing alone works better than you would expect, thanks to Bosco, a drone that mines, lights and revives on command.
The long game is generous. Each class has a deep weapon tree, overclocks that rewrite how a gun behaves, and promotions that reset the level while keeping your kit. Seasonal content has been added for years at no extra cost, and older seasons can be switched back on so nothing is missed by arriving late. The base price is the whole price unless you fancy a cosmetic pack.
Weak spots are few. Mission types repeat once you have seen them all, and the top hazard levels rely on teammates who communicate. Cross-play is limited, so check which store your friends use before buying. Those notes aside, this is the rare online game that feels designed by people who like their players.
Score breakdown
A short tutorial, then straight into a cave with a drone or three friendly strangers.
Dig, light, shoot, carry, extract. Every class changes how the same cave is solved.
Procedural caves, hazard levels, promotions and years of free seasons.
Pay once. Season tracks cost nothing and never lock gameplay items away.
Runs well on modest PCs; cross-play only links Xbox and the Microsoft Store.
Scores are our editorial opinion. How the weighting works.
What stands out, what to weigh up
Stands out
- Four classes that genuinely need each other
- Fully destructible, never-the-same caves
- Free seasons you can replay at any time
- Excellent solo mode with the Bosco drone
Weigh up
- Steam players cannot join console lobbies
- Mission types become familiar after 40 hours
- Highest hazards need a talkative team
In-game screenshots
Official images © Coffee Stain Publishing, shown for the purpose of review.
Your first session: four tips
- Pick the Scout or Gunner first
Both have simple jobs — light the cave or guard the team — so you learn the mission flow without managing gadgets.
- Stay on Hazard 2 for an evening
It is calm enough to learn the ping tool, the minimap and how each mission type ends.
- Ping everything
The laser pointer names minerals, marks enemies and tells teammates where you want a platform. It replaces voice chat surprisingly well.
- Empty your bag before the swarm
Call the mule and unload your minerals when things are quiet. A full bag during a fight is a slow dwarf.
Our verdict · 9.2 / 10
The easiest recommendation in our catalogue. If you have ever wanted a co-op game that respects both your evening and your wallet, save here first.
Best for: Friends who want one reliable co-op night a week
