Deep Rock Galactic is a multiplayer game focused on teamwork and survival. You are given various missions where you'll collect specific minerals that can be used to upgrade your weapons and equipment. Doing so will allow you to traverse even more dangerous territory and collect exotic materials, such as Morkite, for the evergrowing Deep Rock Galactic mining corporation.
Deep Rock Galactic is being developed by Ghost Ship Games.

It's a Danish game development studio with a simple motto: Take Co-op to the next level and to make great games, focused on the Core Gamer. DRG is their first title in development. So, if Co-op gameplay and resource collection are your cups of tea, then this game is definitely right up your alley.

As always, we like to state that we were given an Early Access copy of the game. So, it is not complete and still has a few kinks that need to be worked out. That being said, we're giving our thoughts on the current state of Deep Rock Galactic.

In this sci-fi action-adventure, sci-fi game you are a dwarf working for the renowned Deep Rock Galactic mining conglomerate. You are tasked with exploring various procedurally generated caverns on this hostile alien planet. But, you are not alone. Your dwarven brethren, up to 3 other players, will explore with you and fight off the alien Glyphids (spider-like creatures) who are ruthless and vicious towards intruders in their homeworld.

You'll use state-of-the-art mining equipment to collect exotic minerals as quickly and efficiently as possible. You'll also be given access to the latest weapons and gadgets that Deep Rock Galactic has accumulated for this specific mission on Hoxxes IV. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to gather valuable minerals for your conglomerate overlords while surviving an onslaught of venomous and exploding spiderlings.

Welcome, Greenbeard (that's our affectionate name we give to our new recruits) to the Deep Rock Galactic crew. You are privileged to enter our ranks of prestigious dwarf brethren who are the best miners and explorers in the entire galaxy. As of today, we have over 87 Orbital Space Rigs throughout various systems in the Outer Rim. With more sites being constructed every day and our reach expanding beyond anything our competitors can comprehend, we feel confident and saying we're the best damn space mining crew this side of Rigel VII.

But, enough about that. You're here because you have been selected for a very special purpose. You will partake in our latest endeavor, Mission Hoxxes IV. This is the most dangerous territory we've come across in all of our travels thus far. Lucky for you, we've come well-stocked with heavy artillery and will implement prototypical equipment that will ensure our success. I know your dwarf blood is boiling with excitement at the thought of mining unexplored territory. You're not alone.

Greenbeards and veterans alike will join you in these underground caverns. Rely on them for guidance and survival. It's the only way you'll make it out of this alive, probably. Don't worry about the particulars for now. Just know that with grave danger comes great recognition and rewards. Now, get out there and make us proud!

The most integral aspect of this game is the mining crew. There are four classes you can choose from: Driller, Scout, Engineer, and Gunner. They are all useful for missions and fun to play. Their weapons and abilities vary from one another. Though, we would go as far to say that the driller should be mandatory for any mining crew, even if you only play as a duo. His giant drills allow him to easily create traversable terrain. For instance, if there's a deposit of Morkite high up on a cavern wall, he can drill into that wall upwards and make a tunnel leading right up to the deposit. It saves so much time in the case that you have to backtrack because you're missing a certain kind of mineral.

Trust us, missions can take upwards of 45 minutes if you aren't efficient with how you collect minerals and spread out your crew members throughout the cavern. The Driller is a huge timesaver. Plus, he has a flamethrower and a Detonation Pack. So, you gotta love this guy.

All characters have a pickaxe for mining, flares for lighting up areas, grenades to blow up Glyphids, and armor for protection. Let's go over the basics of the other classes since we already covered the Driller. The Scout has an Assault Rifle, a Sawed-Off Shotgun, a Flare Fun, and a Grappling Hook. With two strong weapons, he can fend for himself while he scouts ahead of his crew members. He can also shoot flares around to light up the dark subterranean area. He's also able to Grapple around for quick movement in combat or to get a better view of an area.

With a Combat Shotgun and Grenade Launcher, the Engineer is no slouch in terms of combat prowess. But, where he truly shines is his utility of the Platform Gun and the Sentry Gun. He can shoot out yellow-colored platforms that attach themselves to walls. This allows you to reach higher platforms or traverse down quickly without taking fall damage from jumping a large distance. When he sets up Sentry Guns you'll have no problem shooting through waves of Glyphid Swarmers or the larger Glyphids Praetorians.

The last class is Gunner. He comes equipped with a Revolver, a Gatling Gun, Zipline Gun, and a Detonation Pack. His main role in the team is to shoot down Glyphid creatures. His Ziplines can be used by teammates for quick travel. When classes are at low levels, the Gunner doesn't really seem to stand out. However, once you've upgraded his weapons and the amount of ammo he holds, he becomes a force to be reckoned with.

Though this game was obviously built from the ground up with multiplayer in mind, taking on a mission solo is not as boring or lonely as you might think. You have an M.U.L.E. that you can call over and deposit your minerals into. He crawls over to the location you indicate by placing a blinking rod into the ground. He feels like a pack animal, silent but a companion nonetheless. You also have a small droid that is a bit more vocal when it's moving around and climbing walls. You can tell him to mine specific minerals for you. He's really convenient to have around. He acts as a mining crew member. It's nice that this droid is available for you when playing solo (not available when playing in a multiplayer setting). The soundtrack is simple but immersive.

There's a very Doctor Who-esque quality to some of the tracks. During battles, you are reminded that the creatures you're fighting are foreign and that you're not in territory that is friendly. You're on a hostile planet in the Outer Rim of the galaxy. It feels as if the dark, crystalline walls of the caverns are the only thing keeping you sane. On the other side of those walls is a vast unknown world with infinite possibilities. Maybe it's the dwarf blood coursing through our veins, but being underground provides a sense of comfort in an otherwise alien world.

Even though there is an in-game chat (you can type out messages to one another), most communication is made through emotes and marking minerals with your laser. You can tell a teammate that you want him to mine gold or other minerals by placing a mark on them. When you find a new passage or a breakable wall, you can call out teammates to converge on your location. After defeating a wave of spiders, you can raise your pick ax in triumph and shout out "Rock and Stone!" which will rally the same response from your dwarf brothers. Communication is intuitive and enjoyable.

Overall, the uniqueness of each class, the music, the feeling of comradery, the upgrade system, and the caverns themselves all come together perfectly to create thoroughly enjoyable co-op experience that feels familiar and natural. There aren't many other games such as this with a huge emphasis on multiplayer. Deep Rock Galactic isn't groundbreaking, but it executes on its core objective so well that we wonder why games such as this one haven't been released in the past. This game deserves much more hype for its release than what it currently has.

Deep Rock Galactic is a multiplayer game that we have high hopes for. Even though it's still in its Early Access stage, we know it'll be well received by gamers everywhere. Ghost Ship Games has done a great job with its first title. We can't wait to see how DRG shapes up over the course of its lifetime and we're going to keep a close eye on new games coming from this studio. You should as well!