Dinsun Review
Dinsun here. I’ve lost enough hair to XCOM's '99% chance to hit' misses to last a lifetime. SteamWorld Heist is the antidote to that frustration. If you miss a shot in this game, it’s because *you* aimed poorly, not because a die roll failed you. The ricochet mechanic is brilliant—it turns every turn into a geometry puzzle where you're trying to bank a shot off a ceiling to hit a bot behind cover.
The progression is satisfyingly old-school. No microtransactions, no gacha mechanics—just a solid campaign where you earn better gear and recruit better bots. The characters are distinct, the music (by Steam Powered Giraffe) is soulful, and the whole package feels complete. It’s one of the few mobile ports that feels absolutely essential. It’s strategy at its most honest.
Overall Stats
Pros & Cons
- Skill-based aiming eliminates frustrating RNG
- Incredible steampunk art and soundtrack
- Perfectly balanced difficulty curve
- Limited mission variety in the late game
- UI can be a bit cramped on smaller phones
- Collecting hats is addictive to a fault
Technical Report
Performance: Flawless performance; the tactical nature of the game makes it perfect for touchscreens.
- Five difficulty settings
- Adjustable camera speed
- Full tutorial system
Audience Fit
Buy if: You love strategy games like XCOM but want more direct control over the action.
Skip if: You dislike turn-based combat or 2D side-scrollers.
- XCOM: Enemy Within
- Invisible, Inc.
- Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle
Reviewer Context
- Reviewer: Dinsun
- Hardware: iPhone 15 Pro Max
- Playtime: 25 hours
- Status: Finished on Experienced Difficulty
