Recently, so-called 'incremental games' focused on resource extraction have been making waves on Steam. Their appeal lies in their sheer, unadulterated simplicity: gather resources, upgrade your tools, and repeat the cycle to harvest even more. The real dopamine hit comes as you progress—shifting from scavenging single scraps to hoovering up entire screens worth of loot. It is an oddly satisfying visual feast that is perfect for killing time. With that in mind, we have rounded up five resource-mining games currently boasting a 'Very Positive' rating or higher on Steam.

Released in November 2025, 'Shelldiver' is a game where you pilot a submarine through the deep ocean to gather resources and rebuild your island. You play as a cute turtle hunting jellyfish and scavenging scrap, a loop that has earned the title an 'Overwhelmingly Positive' rating (99% positive, with 9,834 reviews).

The core fun lies in the exponential increase of loot through equipment upgrades. As you swap your bubble gun for a plasma cannon and beef up your oxygen tanks and submarine specs, you will soon find yourself clearing the screen like a seasoned hack-and-slash veteran. The vast skill tree lets you tailor your exploration style, while unlocking diverse biomes like lava zones and crystal caves adds a genuine sense of mystery to your deep-sea journey.

'Space Rock Breaker' is a title where you pilot a spacecraft to mine asteroids and claim loot, released in December 2025 and currently sitting at 'Overwhelmingly Positive' (97% positive, with 1,695 reviews). You will use everything from guns and missiles to lasers to shatter space rocks and uncover the ores hidden deep within.

The real twist is the Plinko-style machine used to process your haul. It is not just about gathering; you engage in a mini-game that can multiply your yield several times over, adding a cheeky gambling thrill. Throw in loot boxes filled with gear ranging from common to legendary, and you have a cocktail of resource gathering and gacha elements that is pure dopamine.

Launched in July 2025, 'Keep on Mining!' is an incremental game that nails the convenience factor, automatically mining any rock your mouse cursor touches. It holds a 'Very Positive' rating (94% positive, with 6,863 reviews), and the ability to mine a radius around your cursor makes sweeping up resources incredibly satisfying. The loop involves turning ore into ingots and using them to fill out a skill tree for permanent stat buffs.

Beyond the standard tool upgrades, the game adds a roguelike twist where you choose from three random buffs upon leveling up. A rare artifact system adds even more 'loot luck' to the mix. Once you progress far enough, you can even unlock mines that automate resource collection and ingot production, giving it all the quality-of-life features you would expect from a solid idle game.

'Keep Digging' is a cooperative digging game supporting up to 8 players, which has enjoyed a 'Very Positive' rating (80% positive, with 2,691 reviews) since its September 2025 launch. The goal is to explore 1km beneath the earth in search of gems and relics, emphasizing the fun of uncovering underground ruins with friends. The humorous character customization—think clowns and chimps—adds a visual layer of hilarity.

The gameplay follows a classic cycle of selling resources to upgrade your picks, shovels, dynamite, and batteries. As you dive deeper, you will stumble upon massive dinosaur fossils and ancient ruins; since there is no heavy combat, many players find the focus on pure mining and exploration to be surprisingly therapeutic.

'Digseum' is a title that blends digging with museum management, earning an 'Overwhelmingly Positive' rating (97% positive, with 7,325 reviews) since its October 2024 debut. You dig in various locations to unearth ancient relics, then display them in your museum to turn a profit. As your collection grows, so does your museum's revenue, which you then reinvest into mining speed or reach.

While it follows the typical clicker formula, the rebirth system makes scaling your progress feel explosive. Each run accelerates your resource gain, providing a quick sense of growth while the visual satisfaction of expanding your museum is undeniably addictive. It packs both the thrill of the dig and the joy of collecting into a punchy experience, making it perfect for those with a busy schedule.