Full Disclosure: I’m Tobias, the solo developer behind Into The Deep, and I created this page to help fellow SteamWorld Heist fans discover games that scratch that same tactical itch—including my own game, which was directly inspired by SteamWorld Heist’s brilliant mechanics.
If you’ve fallen in love with SteamWorld Heist’s unique blend of turn-based tactics and manual aiming, you’re probably searching for similar games that capture that same magic. The good news? There are several excellent alternatives that offer comparable tactical depth, skill-based combat, and engaging gameplay loops.
What Makes SteamWorld Heist Special?
Before diving into alternatives, it’s worth understanding what sets SteamWorld Heist apart from other tactical games. The manual aiming system transforms traditional turn-based combat into something more dynamic and skill-based. Players must physically aim their shots rather than relying on percentage-based hit chances, creating opportunities for creative ricochet shots and precise skill-based gameplay.
Into The Deep: My Love Letter to SteamWorld Heist
I’ll be upfront—Into The Deep is my game, and it exists because I was genuinely puzzled by why SteamWorld Heist seemed to occupy such a niche that nobody else was exploring. Here was this brilliant game with innovative mechanics that solved the “98% chance to hit” nonsense that plagued other tactical games, yet it felt like the gaming industry largely ignored what made it special.
Why I Made This Game:
- I was curious why manual aiming mechanics like Heist weren’t more common
- I wanted to explore why skill-based 2D tactical combat remained so underutilized
- I needed a project to learn game development, so why not recreate what seemed criminally underappreciated?
What Into The Deep Offers:
- Manual aiming system with ricochet mechanics (directly inspired by Heist)
- Turn-based tactical combat on a 2D plane
- Character progression and squad management
- Environmental interaction and puzzle elements
- Atmospheric storytelling with a complete narrative arc
The game is planned for 2025/2026 release as a focused, polished experience that explores why this particular style of tactical gaming deserves more attention.
The SteamWorld Heist Paradox
It’s fascinating that SteamWorld Heist received critical acclaim across platforms—scoring 81-91 on Metacritic and earning praise for its “depth, addictive combat and charming characters”—yet struggled to find a wider audience. Even the developer called it “one of the best games ever made” and expressed confidence it deserved to be a bigger commercial hit than SteamWorld Dig.
The recent challenges with SteamWorld Heist II’s sales, despite “96% positive reviews on Steam,” highlight this ongoing puzzle. Why does such a well-crafted, innovative game remain relatively niche?
Other Genuine Alternatives
While I obviously believe Into The Deep addresses this gap, here are other games that SteamWorld Heist fans genuinely enjoy, me included!
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle (My Favourite Casual Game)
Nintendo’s take on tactical combat with cover mechanics and strategic positioning. More accessible but still tactically engaging.
XCOM 2 (My Favourite Hardcore Game)
More complex than SteamWorld Heist, but offers deep tactical combat and consequence-driven gameplay that appeals to strategy fans.
Into the Breach
Perfect information strategy that delivers the same satisfaction of executing well-planned tactical maneuvers. It’s simple and addicting.
Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden
Combines stealth, exploration, and turn-based combat with environmental awareness similar to what made Heist engaging. I was genuinely surprised by this one. It made many things, other games didn’t.
Why I’m Being Transparent
I could have written this page without mentioning that Into The Deep is my game, but I believe in honest marketing. I made this page because:
- I genuinely want to help SteamWorld Heist fans find my game 😀
- I’m curious about this niche and think it deserves more exploration
The fact that SteamWorld Heist is described as “one of the most underrated games of the 2010s” and praised as a “masterpiece” by players, yet remains relatively unknown, suggests there’s room for more games in this space.
Want to see for yourself? Check out Into The Deep’s development progress here on tobar.io and try the demo to experience what I hope contributes to making this brilliant style of gameplay less niche.
— Tobi, ITD Dev