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BORE BLASTERS

BORE BLASTERS

8BitSkull · released Mar 8, 2024

ActionAdventureCasualPC

Blast through rocks with your machine gun drill. Collect rare gems, ores and ancient artefacts, upgrade your ship and unlock new abilities. Uncover the mysteries of the deep and the dangers that lurk below.

Steam page ↗Metacritic 77 · users 7.5 ↗
75
VGC Score
■Stablehigh confidence

anchored at patch: “Engine upgrade” (1y ago)

76%
At launch
81%
Steam all-time
77%
Press
80%
Recent sentiment

Screenshots & trailers

Review sentiment over time

Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.

How this score was computed

The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.

ComponentPositiveQuality (0-100)Weight (pseudo-reviews)
Press reviews (Metacritic)–7728
All-time Steam reviews81%75381
Metacritic user ratings––0
Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted)80%74300
Calibration prior (typical game)–7250

Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Oct 18, 2024) · 300 reviews sampled · 282 total reviews in window · weighted 168.1 up / 40.8 down · computed 3h ago · full methodology →

Press & Creators reviews (9)

Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.

  • 70
    Gamer EscapeGamer Escape
    trust 72Mar 8, 2024

    “I’m loving the bite-sized gameplay that games like Bore Blasters brings to the table. It’s simultaneously a good way to sample what makes roguelikes so appealing to some, while also delivering fast and frantic rock-shattering action that throws away the pickaxe in a uniquely explosive way. This is a pretty solid game that worth giving a shot, if not for the fact that it’s one of the few games that lends itself nicely to portable play. Sure, other roguelikes might have a leg up in comparison. But that shouldn’t stop you from strapping into your gyrocopter and doing some deep dives of your own. If you’re looking for more dwarven shenanigans in your life, this one is worth a look. I’m sure some miners would raise a pickaxe and a beer in agreement.”

    read full review ↗
  • 90
    GameGrinGameGrin
    trust 67Jan 31, 2025

    “Something of a hidden gem which has a lot of gems hidden for you to shoot with your machine gun drill.”

    read full review ↗
  • 68
    PC GamerPC Gamer
    trust 63Mar 14, 2024

    “There’s a lot to love in the core loop, but this diamond in the rough gets buried under a repetitive campaign and late game balance issues. ”

    read full review ↗
  • 86
    Buried Treasure
    trust 62Mar 8, 2024

    “This is in fact the impossibly sublime mix of a twin-stick shooter with a mining game, and it’s compellingly fun.”

    read full review ↗
  • 90
    GameSpewGameSpew
    trust 60Mar 8, 2024

    “A true hidden gem, Bore Blasters has all the ingredients of an indie classic in the making. The gameplay loop here is one of the most enjoyable and satisfying that we’ve had the pleasure to play, and each new upgrade really does feel like an achievement. Simply put, we can’t get enough of Bore Blasters: we’re going to be returning to it time and time again. And each time, we won’t be able to pull ourselves away.”

    read full review ↗
  • 78
    Tech-Gaming
    trust 59Mar 14, 2024

    “With a reliance on auto-targeting, the Vampire Survivor clones can grow tedious. Bore Blasters mixes things up with twin-stick shooter mechanics, where drilling through the environment is just as imperative as gunning down foes. While in-game inflation becomes irritating, the few first hours, are indeed, a blast.”

    read full review ↗
  • 70
    Movies Games and TechMovies Games and Tech
    trust 56Mar 5, 2024

    “Bore Blasters is an amazing 8bits ship exploring game. The game concept is simple to grasp. The gameplay is amazing and always attracts you to explore more. Although the game lacks a bit some feature and the environment's procedural generation might need a tweak or two. It still fit to be a game that offers something for players after a busy workday.”

    read full review ↗
  • 70
    Hardcore GamerHardcore Gamer
    trust 53Mar 11, 2024

    “Bore Blasters may have one rough edge in terms of its time limit, but the rest of the game is a solid blaster through a large series of fully-destructible levels backed by a pounding soundtrack. Each biome has its own hazards, like growing blocks that can regenerate right in your path, or lava blocks shooting fireballs, and all the firepower in the world isn't going to be a substitute for paying attention to the level hazards. Even a failed Bore Blasters run is a lot of fun packed with satisfyingly-explosive moments, but there would be a lot more them if there was time to amble to the end rather than sprint.”

    read full review ↗
  • 70
    God is a GeekGod is a Geek
    trust 49Mar 8, 2024

    “Bore Blasters is a fun little time-waster, but it's not an experience you'll remember after you've moved on.”

    read full review ↗

Patch history

  1. Minor update
    Dec 14, 2025
  2. Minor Fixes, 2nd attempt
    Feb 26, 2025
  3. Minor fixes (reverted)
    Feb 25, 2025
  4. Hotfix to correct Steam Deck controls issue
    Feb 6, 2025
  5. Fix font issue
    Nov 11, 2024
  6. Engine upgrade
    Oct 18, 2024significant · resets scoring window
  7. Minor update
    Oct 9, 2024
  8. Minor update
    Sep 28, 2024
  9. Minor update
    Sep 1, 2024
  10. Patch 1.41
    Jul 22, 2024
  11. Content update incoming
    Jun 17, 2024significant · resets scoring window
  12. Content update patch (v1.36)
    May 13, 2024significant · resets scoring window
  13. Content Update
    May 6, 2024
  14. Anti-virus update
    Apr 13, 2024
  15. Change log v1.34
    Apr 9, 2024
  16. Change log v1.30
    Mar 27, 2024
  17. Endgame Update #1
    Mar 18, 2024
  18. Endgame Roadmap
    Mar 13, 2024
  19. Change log v1.19
    Mar 13, 2024
  20. Change log v1.18
    Mar 13, 2024
  21. Change log v1.17
    Mar 12, 2024
  22. Change log v1.16 - new bolt-on tech
    Mar 11, 2024
  23. Launch fixes
    Mar 9, 2024
  24. Change log v1.1
    Feb 27, 2024
  25. Change log v1.0
    Feb 22, 2024
  26. Change log v0.29
    Feb 19, 2024
  27. Change log v0.28
    Feb 14, 2024
  28. Change log v0.27
    Feb 13, 2024
  29. Change log v0.24
    Feb 10, 2024
  30. Change log v0.21
    Feb 4, 2024
  31. Change log v0.19
    Feb 3, 2024
  32. Change log v0.18
    Feb 3, 2024
  33. Change log 0.16
    Feb 1, 2024
  34. Change log 0.15
    Jan 30, 2024