Common Sense Media Review
By David Chapman
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Irresistible steampunk fantasy is in the cards.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
Videos and Photos
SteamWorld Quest: Hand of Gilgamech
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's It About?
STEAMWORLD QUEST: HAND OF GILGAMECH puts a new spin on the SteamWorld universe, bringing the steampunk flavor of the main sci-fi series over to a new tale of magic and fantasy. The story begins with two aspiring adventurers, Armilly and Copernica, on a quest to save their town's water supply. Things quickly spiral through chance and happenstance, and before long, the two heroes-in-training become their world's last hope. Luckily, they won't need to go it alone as they recruit other adventurers to their cause. Each hero uses a small hand of action cards enhanced by their classes and equipment in the game's turn-based combat. With over 100 unique hand-drawn cards to craft and collect, there's no shortage of ways to play.
Is It Any Good?
One of the more interesting things about the SteamWorld series of games is how its unique style and personality has managed to seamlessly fit itself into multiple genres. For SteamWorld Quest: Hand of Gilgamech, the series ditches its sci-fi settings and brings the steampunk vibe to a fantasy role-playing adventure, with a touch of card gaming tossed in for good measure. It's an odd combination, but once again, it feels like a natural fit and somehow just works.
Right off the bat, it's hard not to get drawn into SteamWorld Quest, thanks to its presentation. The hand-drawn artwork is gorgeous, injecting life and personality into the characters and into the world as a whole. It creates a fun world that you want to be a part of. It's easy to pick up the basics of the card-based gameplay, but that will only get you so far. And there lies the game's biggest hurdle. To get the most out of the gameplay and combat, you've got to put together the right combinations of characters, equipment, and cards. This means spending a lot of time farming for materials and crafting cards, then testing to see how they might work. Trying to find the right mix you're comfortable with can be a long and drawn out process that interrupts the otherwise smooth flow of the game. Still, when it all comes together and everything clicks, SteamWorld Quest creates an adventure that's easy to lose yourself in.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about strategy in gaming. How do strategic elements in role-playing games compare to the more trigger-happy elements in shooter type games? How can these elements add new layers to the gaming experience?
How do some games, books, movies, etc., go about creating entire franchises? Does getting to revisit these worlds in different adventures help to increase their appeal with audiences?
Game Details
- Platforms : Google Stadia , Linux , Mac , Nintendo Switch , Windows
- Pricing structure : Paid
- Available online? : Available online
- Publisher : Thunderful Publishing AB
- Release date : April 19, 2019
- Genre : Role-Playing
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Robots
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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