In the realm of indie games, where roguelites and mining simulators each have their niche, Wall World 2 from the indie gamedev Alawar mixes them into a vertical thrill ride—descending (and ascending) a gigantic wall, mining ores, fighting waves of monsters, upgrading your gear and uncovering mysteries. According to the Steam store page:
“The adventure in the mysterious world of the Wall continues! Pilot your robospider into its depths, uncover lost artifacts and technologies, upgrade your exosuit and spider, and battle the horrors lurking in the dark.”
The game released on November 11 2025. In this indie game review, let’s follow us at Indie Games Tavern to explore how Wall World 2 builds on the first game, what it does right, where it has room to grow, and whether it should be on your wishlist of indie gems.
Core Gameplay & Loop
At its core Wall World 2 combines mining, roguelite mechanics, exploration, and survival‐action:
- You pilot a robospider (a mechanized spider‐like vehicle) along the face of The Wall—a gargantuan vertical structure stretching into unknown depths.
- You enter mining runs: you descend/venture into mine shafts, extract resources, face monsters and hazards, all under a time-pressure or wave threat that forces you to retreat back up. As one review puts it: “The moment your warning meter starts flashing, you know it’s time to run back and defend your spider.”
- Between runs you upgrade gear: your exosuit and the robospider itself, gaining new weapons, abilities, upgrades for mining, defense, exploration. The hub area allows you to customise, take side-quests, talk to NPCs, and advance progression.
- Environmental variety: The Wall features varied biomes, weather and lighting changes, dynamic mining surfaces, relics, anomalies and hidden secrets.
So the loop of this roguelite indie title is: Choose a mission → descend into the wall/mines → mine resources + fight monsters → survive extraction wave → return to hub → upgrade gear, pick side-missions → repeat with tougher runs and deeper layers.
The indie gamedev Alawar implemented the procedural elements, each run gives variation and risk, this increases the replayability to the top notch.
What Works Very Well
1. Elevating the Mining + Roguelite Hybrid
While mining games are often relaxing or incremental, Wall World 2 adds tension: you’re not just drilling, you’re racing time and monsters. The barrage of waves after mining makes decisions matter—how much ore to grab vs how safe to retreat. The review from LadiesGamers says:
“The defence segments feel sharper this time around… surviving a late-game assault feels earned.”
That kind of risk/reward loop works well for the roguelite audience, especially for the fans of indie games which have low price but the playtime is so much longer the AAA titles.
2. Upgrades, Hub & Personality
The hub area with NPCs, side quests, upgrade paths, and customising your robospider gives the game structure and motivation beyond the core loop. We at Indie Games Tavern really highly appreciated those features, the indie gamedev Alawar did bring those to the next level comparing to the previous Wall World. The review notes small touches like naming your spider and bar mechanics for stat boosts:
“Naming your spider and watching the name appear across its hull is such a small detail, but it somehow makes your run feel personal.”
That kind of indie charm boosts the game’s identity.
3. Visual & Thematic Flair
The aesthetic—pixel art with atmospheric lighting, verticality, mining rigs, monstrous creatures lurking in dark depths—gives the game strong character. Reviews highlight how the lighting, rain/snow/weather effects, environment variety make the Wall feel alive.
For an indie game, that polish in setting and mood is a great plus.
4. Indie Value & Positive Reception
Steam tags show “Very Positive” user reviews (e.g., 89% positive from ~94 reviews as of the store page, at the time this review was written). The game ticks the boxes of “indie games review” worthy: clear identity, strong polish for its scale, engaging loop.
Areas for Improvement & Things to Consider
1. Learning Curve & Early-Game Pacing
The loop of mining + extraction + defense is exciting, but the first runs may feel slower or tougher for new players. Some reviews of the first game noted a “slow start” issue. While Wall World 2 improves on many fronts, players unfamiliar with roguelite/mining hybrids may need time to get comfortable.
2. Content Depth & Long-Term Variation
While the game offers variety, the long-term staying power will depend on how many distinct biomes, enemy types, upgrades, and hub systems exist. If after many runs the quests or upgrades feel repetitive, the loop could lose impact. Reviewers caution that side-missions “can hit unexpectedly hard” which is good, but consistent variation is key.
3. Minor Technical Issues
Some builds reported bugs or quirks: e.g., freeze while transitioning from mine back to spider, enemy AI getting stuck. The review acknowledges:
“I ran into a couple of issues … including a freeze while transitioning … and the occasional enemy getting stuck.”
As an indie game, continuous patching is typical—but prospective players should be aware.
4. Accessibility & Clarity
Because you’re juggling mining, exploration, wave defense, upgrades, hub quests, some players may feel a lot is happening. Good tutorialisation, UI clarity and onboarding are vital. The review mentions it offers a “generous onboarding and a world worth exploring,” but that implies there are systems to learn.
Final Thoughts
Wall World 2 developed by the indie gamedev Alawar is a strong contender in the indie roguelite/mining genre. It takes the core idea—mine a giant vertical wall, fight monsters, upgrade your mech—and deepens it with upgrades, hub management, varied biomes and defense tension. For fans of both mining sims and roguelites, this is a delightful blend.
If you appreciate indie games with clear identity, strong mechanical loops, and mood/atmosphere, Wall World 2 is well worth your wishlist. If you prefer ultra-high polish AAA or prefer purely casual loops without tension, you might look for something more relaxed—but even then this game offers great value.
To us at Indie Games Tavern, if you’re ready to jump into the face of the Wall, pilot your robospider, drill into the unknown, fight off hordes in a lightning-fast extraction, and uncover the mysteries beneath—Wall World 2 might just be the next indie mining/roguelite adventure you need.
Who Should Play It?
- Players who love roguelite loops with risk/reward and upgrades.
- Fans of mining, subterranean exploration, vertical levels and mech/robot traversal.
- Gamers looking for indie games that combine action, strategy and exploration under one roof.
Who Might Wait or Skip?
- Players seeking completely casual, no-risk experiences—they may find the defense waves and extraction tension stressful.
- Gamers who prefer ultra-long sandbox or open-world freedom (this game is loop/run focused).
- Those who dislike minor technical hiccups or early learning curves.
Wall World 2 Review by Indie Games Tavern.
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