Videogame simulator games are a weird bunch. Either they’re off the wall efforts that make zero attempt to be realistic, or they’re gamified versions of real experiences that try and make you feel like you’re actually able to do the job. The immersion of the latter is even more apparent when played in VR, as actually being inside that world makes you feel like a professional.

Dig VR, from Leeds based developer Just Add Water, seeks to introduce you to the world of excavation – something that will likely be a childhood dream for many – and Wired Productions gave us access to a pre-release build so that we can tell you what we think.

Many thanks to Wired Productions for this early preview opportunity.

CAN YOU DIG IT?
I’m probably not the only person who has seen diggers many times over the years, yet don’t really know exactly how they operate. I certainly recognised the interior well as the tutorial placed me inside an industrial digger, but I had no idea where to start. Thankfully, all it took was lowering a lever and pressing the ‘on’ button and I was soon ready to go.

General movement of the digger is made by using the two big black levers right in the centre: pushing both forward will make it move forward, whereas moving one of them causes it to turn. The Joysticks on either side are a tad more complicated, however, as they control the digger’s arm and head. It can be difficult to get used to the realistic controls, and the game does offer stick controls as an alternative, but it’s worth taking the time to get accustomed to them due to to how immersive and rewarding they are when you master them. 

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The tutorial sees you digging up dirt and moving it to the tarp, and eventually you’ll even have to change heads to drill through a stubborn rock. I was quite surprised by being able to use different heads, and there are many more available later in the game, but swapping them is easy to do and helps add some additional depth to the gameplay.

Once you complete the tutorial, your trusty digger breaks down  thus forcing you to go back to square one with a mini digger until you earn enough funds to upgrade your rig. It’s a trite setup for sure, but also explains why you’re forced to take smaller jobs digging up ponds in people’s gardens rather than being on a proper worksite.

These jobs appear on the noticeboard in your office, and have you going all around Diglington (no doubt a nod to the Leeds’ based town with a similar name) helping people out with their needs. Doing a job in graded mode will punish you for any mistakes, such as damaging their property or digging outside of the designated area, but will net you a higher payout if you do well. Zen mode, on the other hand, won’t penalise you for errors but your payout is fixed. It’s a nice way to encourage you to play the riskier mode, without it ever feeling like a necessity. Money earned will obviously allow you to upgrade to a more powerful digger, but can also be used for aesthetical purposes too – such as paint jobs or stickers. It’s a nice system that adds worth to the money, even if there’s nothing too fancy to buy.

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In addition to the main mode, there’s also a range of side activities for you to do. The sandbox mode is there for more free-form stress-free digging, whilst the minigames challenge you to some silly little tasks. I didn’t care too much for the sandbox mode since your digger’s slow movement speed makes it a chore to travel long distances, but the minigames are a lot of fun. One of them has you controlling a bowling ball attached to the digger arm as you try and knock down the skittles, another has you hooking ducks at a carnival, and the final is all about scooping up balls. They’re ridiculous in the context of the game, but they’re also a fun side distraction too.

All in all, Dig VR is one of those experiences that seems like it would be extremely boring, yet you just can’t stop playing. Much like Powerwash Simulator, it shows that there’s fun to be had in even the most tedious of tasks, and I really hope that this game receives a similar amount of post-launch support.

VERDICT
Dig VR probably isn’t on your wishlist at the moment, but is absolutely should be. It’s a chilled out simulation game that doesn’t take itself too seriously, and successfully manages to feel both rewarding and addictive. Despite being slow and methodical by nature, it feels great controlling a VR digger and will no doubt hook people in for a very long time.