If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if Asteroids met an idle upgrade game, Void Miner developed by the indie gamedev Ryan & Jakob might be the answer. This indie title launched on November 16, 2025 on Steam.
Void Miner is all about blasting asteroids, collecting resources, and powering up your ship — but doing it in a loop that’s as much about progression and strategy as it is about quick reflexes.
Let’s follow us at Indie Games Tavern to dive into how it plays, what works, where it might fall short, and whether it’s worth a place in your wishlist.
Gameplay & Core Loop
Void Miner blends action, roguelite, and incremental mechanics in a top-down, space-themed shooter. The core loop goes something like this:
- Pilot Your Ship Through Asteroids
You start with a basic spaceship. Your job is to dodge and blast asteroids in endless waves, turning them into resources when they’re destroyed. - Collect & Harvest
Every asteroid you destroy drops resources. These can be mined, turned into materials for upgrades, or used to fuel further power. - Upgrade Through a Skill Tree
There’s an upgrade tree that lets you improve different aspects of your ship: firepower, resource collection, survivability, and more. - Automated Tower Mechanic
The game doesn’t just rely on manual shooting — there is a tower or automated system that helps destroy asteroids and gather resources, adding a strategic layer to progression. - Roguelite Scaling
As you progress, waves of asteroids become more intense. The goal is to scale your strength so you can survive longer, gather more resources, and eventually “lay waste to the entire asteroid belt.” - Repeat & Grow
After each run, you use your collected resources to unlock more upgrades. The progression loop is designed to keep you coming back for more, especially with an “endless mode” to test your optimized build.
A simple but hooked core loop that keeps you coming back to play more, we Indie Games Tavern highly appreciate what the indie gamedev Ryan & Jakob did here, this is the indie spirit we always talk about.
What Works Really Well
1. Addictive Upgrade Loop
The combination of shooting action and incremental upgrades is very well-balanced. Blasting through waves feels satisfying, but the real hook is returning to upgrade and become more powerful. The skill tree offers meaningful choices that affect playstyle.
2. Great for Both Active and Passive Playstyles
Because of the automated tower, you don’t have to rely solely on your own reflexes — once you’ve upgraded well, the tower handles a lot, which lets you focus more on resource management. This makes it accessible to players who enjoy both active shooters and incremental games.
3. Retro-Inspired Action
The aesthetic and gameplay evoke classic space shooters but with a modern twist. The starfield, asteroid belts, and the feel of the ship are retro-stylized but not dated, giving the game charm without sacrificing playability.
4. Strong Indie Spirit
Being developed by a small indie gamedev team (Ryan & Jakob) gives Void Miner a very personal and polished indie feel. The devs appear to listen to community feedback, and the prologue/demo has performed well. The price is very reasonable (~$4.79 during a 40% launch discount).
5. Good Reception & Momentum
Void Miner has “Very Positive” reviews on Steam (~100% positive from 49 reviews, at the time this article was written). On Reddit, the developer shared that people loved the demo and were highly anticipating the full launch.
Areas for Improvement / Potential Drawbacks
1. Repetitive Loop Risk
As with many incremental games, there’s a risk that the “blast, collect, upgrade, repeat” loop can feel repetitive after many runs — especially if the variety of asteroid types, tower upgrades, or gameplay modes is limited.
2. Early Game Pacing
Several players of the demo noted that the early stage is somewhat slow: the ship is weak, resource collection is limited, and initial upgrades feel gradual. This may be off-putting for players expecting a more immediate power fantasy.
3. Depth vs Accessibility
While the skill tree is a strong point, newer players or those less familiar with roguelite or incremental games might feel overwhelmed by the number of upgrade paths. Balancing “easy to pick up” with “deep to master” is tricky.
4. Limited Content (for Now)
According to the dev’s own posts, the full game is meant to have around 3 hours of structured gameplay plus an endless mode. Depending on price and expectations, some players may find this limited.
5. Technical Polish
As a smaller indie game, it may lack the polish or large-team optimization found in AAA titles. While no major red flags have been reported, minor bugs or balancing issues are always possible in early reviews and on launch.
Final Thoughts
Void Miner is a highly enjoyable and well-crafted indie roguelite shooter that successfully combines arcade-style shooting with incremental progression. It’s not just about blasting asteroids — it’s about building up power, making strategic upgrade choices, and seeing how far you can push your ship and tower.
If you enjoy indie games, love incremental or roguelite mechanics, and want a space shooter that rewards both skill and planning, Void Miner is definitely worth picking up (or wishlisting).
To us at Indie Games Tavern, Void Miner is an addictive but powerful blast through the asteroid belt — perfect for players who love to shoot, grind, and grow. If you’re in the mood for a game that rewards persistence and skill, this one ranks high on the indie roguelite list.
Who Should Play It
- Fans of roguelites who want a mix of action and resource management.
- Players who like retro-inspired shooters with a modern upgrade system.
- Gamers looking for a budget-friendly indie title with strong “one more run” potential.
Who Might Wait or Skip It
- Those expecting a highly narrative-driven game or deep story.
- Players who don’t enjoy repetitive incremental loops.
- Gamers who prefer fully polished AAA games rather than smaller indie releases.
Void Miner Review by Indie Games Tavern.
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