DIG VR feels like PowerWash Simulator for digging, and it’s coming to Quest soon.
Developed by Just Add Water (Sniper Elite VR), DIG VR joins an increasing range of sims on Quest like PowerWash Simulator VR and Lawn Mowing Simulator VR. Revealed during Wired Direct ‘24 by publisher Wired Productions (Arcade Paradise VR), you’re tasked with excavating different locations across Diglington, starting with a mini-digger and various attachments before unlocking more.
Calling DIG VR a “deeply personal” game, Leo Zullo, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Publisher Wired Productions, says the idea was conceived during the early days of 2020’s COVID-19 lockdown. Zulla said that he hired a Digger to find something fun and then had an “eureka” moment when he realized the controls would work perfectly for a VR Game. DIG VR is aiming for an authentic, two-lever control system that allows the player to move around using two sticks and then two levers. It took me a while to get used to the controls, but I found them to be very satisfying. I’m told thumbstick controls are also supported.
That physicality extends beyond the immediate controls. Your digger has a radio that plays eight stations in the game, ranging from lo-fi to classical, country western and more. As someone who loves playing PowerWash Simulator with an external musical playlist, it’s a welcome addition that keeps you motivated.Quest 3Naturally, each mission’s main goal involves digging up dirt with some variances. The dipper must be guided into the earth, the dirt scooped up, then deposited on a nearby plot of land. On paper, it looks simple but the task required a lot of finesse. It was satisfying to get it right after I had accidentally tilted it forward too much on several occasions. You can switch your bucket of dirt for eight different tools. I tried only the drill to break large rocks. Zen, a less stressful option which does not penalise the player but only gives a default payment. This is a trade-off between risk and reward that I did not get to compare properly, but I do appreciate its inclusion. After completing a task, you will be returned to an office that you can explore and choose your next assignment. There are some features that I haven’t yet tried, such as co-op mode, mini games, or the sandbox. DIG VR is a game that has pleasantly surprised. Just Add Water takes an activity that you might not have thought of adapting to a video game, and creates an enjoyable lite simulation with a lot of gameplay depth. I am optimistic about what’s next.
DIGVR is “coming soon”.Border Bots VR