The underground mining simulation is titled BERGWERK—it doesn’t get much more German than that.
We Germans love our work. We love it so much that we even pursue it in our free time—in the form of simulators. For example, theFarming Simulator 22was one of the four best-selling video games in Germany in 2021, competing with titles like FIFA 2022, GTA 5, and Mario Kart 8.
It’s no surprise, then, that our game studios are continuing to cultivate this field. For those who aren’t so into farming but still like to get their hands dirty, Bergwerk – A Mining Simis a great choice.
A Dream for Realists
Bergwerk was expertly put together in Herten, right in the heart of the Ruhr region. Behind it is the small studio Hindsight, based in North Rhine-Westphalia, which is producing its first major title with this simulation.
Here’s what it’s all about: You take on the role of the head of a mining company and are entrusted with all the tasks that come with the job. First, you acquire land and plan it out from a top-down view to turn it into a mining site. To do this, you place mining towers, ore deposits, and processing plants for later use.
But first, of course, you’ll need to get your hands on the coal somehow. Using various controllable machines, you’ll excavate multi-level mines and dig mine shafts that contain the valuable coal seams. But since this isn’t Minecraft—it’s a realistic simulation—it’s not enough to just start hammering away with a pickaxe.
To prevent your tunnels from collapsing, mine structural stability should be at the top of your priority list. Supports help distribute the load, and a carefully laid electrical grid allows you to pump out accumulated mine water. You’ll also need to keep an eye on gas deposits and dust.
With the right tools, you can then start mining coal. To do this, you’ll operate massive milling drums, but you’ll also have to get your hands dirty—for example, using pickaxes and explosives.
But where do you put all the coal you’ve unearthed?Using the most efficient possible transportation network of rails and conveyor belts, you’ll haul the resource to the surface. There, you’ll process it and sell it to the public on a dynamic coal market. The management aspect of Bergwerk will also include equipment maintenance and a credit system.
It’s not yet known when Bergwerk will be released.However, it will be available on both PC (via Steam), PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
Bergwerk is published by Aerosoft, another German publisher. Their portfolio includes tried-and-true simulators such as Subway Sim 2 and The Bus, as well as the crime simulation Forensics: Crime Scene Detective, which our editor Tillmann reviewed together with real police officers. You can find our assessment of its realism in the link box above.
