Protect your planetary drill in this roguelike deckbuilder. Dig deep, build fortresses, and survive alien sieges across the galaxy.

If you have ever wanted to combine the thrill of deep-space exploration with the high-stakes tension of a siege defense, Drill Keeper might be your next obsession. You step into the boots of a heroic Drill Keeper, tasked by a demanding corporation with strip-mining planets to their very core. It is a dangerous gig, made all the more intense by a neural implant that ensures your survival is tied directly to the safety of your massive planetary drill. You will travel across the galaxy, turning barren, resource-rich worlds into your personal, heavily fortified mining operation while fending off the alien horrors that dwell in the dark.

Gameplay

The core of your experience revolves around protecting your Planetary Drill from waves of alien attackers. You are not just building towers; you are actively shaping the battlefield. By digging through the fully destructible environment, you create labyrinthine pathways that force enemies into your kill zones. You must place defensive weapons strategically, choosing between long, narrow corridors for piercing shots or zig-zagging routes that maximize the time enemies spend under fire. Every time you activate your drill, the swarm responds with aggression, making your layout choices the difference between a successful harvest and a catastrophic failure.

Your deck is your primary tool for both offense and defense. You start with a modest set of cards, but as you dig for gold and treasures, you will expand your options. These cards allow you to place and upgrade buildings, apply status effects to the encroaching hordes, or buff your own capabilities. You have to balance your immediate needs—like buying upgrades to survive the current wave—with long-term goals, such as gathering shards for runes that provide permanent bonuses for future expeditions. Managing this economy while under constant threat is the true test of a Drill Keeper.

What stands out

What sets this apart is how the environment itself is a dynamic part of your defense. Because every tile is destructible, you are constantly deciding whether to dig for resources or to clear space for a new turret. Environmental effects can shift the landscape, sometimes helping you and sometimes creating new obstacles. This creates a fresh set of considerations on every planet, as the proximity of enemy spawning pools and the density of the soil change from one run to the next. You are not just defending a static base; you are actively engineering the terrain to suit your strategy.

The game also offers a distinct sense of progression through its faction system. You can choose from different factions, each featuring unique hero archetypes that fundamentally change how you approach the game. Whether you prefer the industrial power of fiery forges and brews or the grim efficiency of biological decay and sacrifices, your choice of faction dictates your defensive style. Some players might lean into spike traps and stone walls, while others might prefer towers that rot and use biomass to damage enemies. These choices ensure that every expedition feels like a new challenge.

Who might enjoy it

This game is a perfect fit if you enjoy the strategic depth of deckbuilders combined with the spatial puzzle-solving of tower defense. If you find satisfaction in optimizing resource chains, planning complex trap layouts, and experimenting with different hero archetypes and factions, you will find plenty to dig into here. It is designed for those who appreciate a blend of immediate tactical combat and long-term planning, where every decision—from how you carve out the terrain to which cards you add to your deck—matters for your ultimate survival.

Unreleased: review and concurrent-player statistics are not applicable.