XBOX REVIEW | A Game About Digging A Hole

There’s something strangely magnetic about a game that tells you exactly what it is in the title, and then dares you to believe that’s all it has to offer. You start as the new owner of a suspiciously cheap house, lured in by a promise of treasure buried somewhere in the garden. A Game About Digging a Hole turns that simple hook into an almost meditative loop: shovel, soil, repeat. But before long, that tiny patch of earth becomes a canvas for curiosity, obsession, and the kind of quiet storytelling that sneaks up on you. It’s a game that asks a small question, “How deep can you go?”, and then keeps nudging you toward bigger ones as the darkness closes in.

Things I liked!

• Gameplay | When I first dropped into A Game About Digging a Hole, I’ll be honest, it took me a moment to find my footing. There is no tutorial, no friendly prompt telling you what to press, just you, a basic shovel, and a patch of earth waiting to be disturbed. You have a few core systems already ticking away in the background too, like a battery that drains as you work and a small storage capacity that fills up faster than you expect, but the game never explains any of it. Those first few minutes were a bit of a scramble as I poked at buttons and tried to work out what the game actually wanted from me.
  
  But once it clicked, the rhythm settled in fast. Dig, scoop, descend, and when your pockets are full or your battery is running low, head back up to the surface. You have to be careful though. If your battery drains completely or you lose all your health, you will drop everything you are carrying and lose the minerals in your inventory. It adds just enough tension to make every trip back to the surface feel like a small victory.
  
  There are also secrets tucked away beneath the soil and a few unexpected dangers waiting for anyone who digs a little too boldly. I will not spoil any of them here, because discovering those surprises for yourself is part of what makes the descent so compelling. Before I knew it, I had slipped into that strangely soothing flow where “just one more layer” quietly becomes half an hour. It is simple, but it is the kind of simplicity that gets under your skin in the best way.

• Progression & Upgrades | Once you return to the garage, the wider loop opens up. You sell whatever minerals you have collected on the computer, then wander over to the workbench to upgrade your gear. There are four main stats you can improve: your shovel, inventory size, battery, and jet pack (yes, you have a jet pack). The early upgrades are cheap, but the prices rise quickly. Thankfully, the deeper you dig, the rarer and more valuable the minerals become, so the economy keeps pace with your ambition.
  
  You can also buy single-use items to help you along the way, such as instant battery charges, health refills, sticks of dynamite you can throw into stubborn rock, and lamps that make the darker layers a little less oppressive. These small tools give you just enough flexibility to push a little deeper each run without ever breaking the core loop.
  
  
• Visuals | A Game About Digging a Hole keeps things simple, but it works in the game’s favour. The visuals have a simple, cartoon-like style that keeps everything clear and easy to read, even as you carve deeper and deeper into the earth. Each layer of soil has its own colour and texture, which gives your descent a quiet sense of progression without needing big visual flourishes. As you dig, you will also notice small chunks of mud and debris that appear to float in place. It is a slightly odd effect at first, but you quickly get used to it, and it becomes part of the game’s quirky charm.
  
  The garage has a cosy, almost handmade feel to it, with just enough detail to make it feel lived in without distracting from the loop. Underground, the lighting shifts as you dig, and the deeper areas become noticeably darker and moodier. Lamps help, but there is still a gentle tension that comes from not always knowing what is just out of sight. It is not a game that tries to impress with high end effects or flashy animations, but the visuals support the experience perfectly. They are clear, readable, and surprisingly atmospheric when the darkness starts to close in.
  
  
• Sound | The audio in A Game About Digging a Hole is simple, but it fits the experience well. The digging has a soft, crunchy sound that becomes oddly relaxing, and the deeper you go, the quieter and more muted everything feels, which adds a nice sense of descent. There is no big soundtrack, but I did not miss it. The gentle hum of your jet pack, the clink of minerals, and the small tool beeps create a calm, almost meditative atmosphere that suits the loop perfectly. It is not flashy, but it sounds clean and purposeful, and it supports the cosy rhythm of digging without ever getting in the way.

Mixed & disliked!

• Length & Replay Value | The overall length of A Game About Digging a Hole is on the short side. The loop is cosy and enjoyable, but once your gear is upgraded, you can reach the bottom fairly quickly. It feels like a game built around a single idea, delivered in a focused way, and the budget price makes that much easier to accept. You are not paying for a long progression curve, and the game never pretends to be anything bigger than it is.
  
  If you enjoy short, self‑contained experiences, the length will probably feel just right. If you prefer games that keep expanding with new mechanics or surprises, you may find it wraps up sooner than expected. It is also worth noting that unlocking every achievement requires multiple playthroughs, which adds some extra time, although how much you enjoy that depends entirely on how much you like repeating the loop.

How long did I play the review before publishing? 6 Hours
How long to beat the story? 2 Hours
How many Achievements did I earn before publishing? 10/10 OR 1000/1000G
How long to achieve 1000G | 4-5 Hours
You’ll love this game if you like these | Treasure Hunter Simulator & Mining Mechs.

CONCLUSION

Score: 85/100

A tiny game with a loop that quietly pulls you in and refuses to let go.

A Game About Digging a Hole ended up being a cosy little surprise. The loop is simple but weirdly satisfying, the upgrades keep things moving, and the whole experience has a calm, almost meditative feel to it. It is a short game, but the budget price makes that completely fair. If you enjoy small, focused games you can relax with for an evening, this one is easy to enjoy.