Dome Keeper
Dome Keeper is a single-player mining and defense game. You land on a hostile planet with a small dome. Your goal is to dig for resources underground, bring them back to the dome, upgrade your tools, and survive waves of creatures that attack on a timer. Runs can be short or long depending on your strategy and the mode you choose.
Key ideas
- Two loops: mine for resources → defend the dome.
- Upgrades change how you dig, carry, and fight.
- Choice of dome weapons (laser or sword) and gadgets adds variety.
- Modes include Relic Hunt (find the relic to finish the run) and Prestige (score chase).
Core Gameplay 👾
Between attacks, you dive into the ground and drill through blocks to collect iron, cobalt, and water (plus other materials in later tiers). Carrying too much slows you down, so you must plan routes and drop loads if needed. When the alarm sounds, you rush back to the surface to control the dome’s weapon and defend against flying, burrowing, or charging enemies. After each wave, you spend resources in the upgrade tree: stronger drill, faster jetpack, tougher shield, better weapon damage, or supportive gadgets like lifts and automated miners.
What You’ll Manage
- Time: A countdown marks the next wave. ⏱️
- Weight: Carry few heavy chunks or many light ones; balance speed and profit.
- Upgrades: Pick between digging faster, moving faster, or hitting harder.
- Risk vs. distance: Deeper mines hold better resources but take longer to reach.
How to Play (Step by Step) 🧭
- Pick a setup: Choose your keeper, a dome weapon (laser or sword), and a mode.
- Start mining: Use keyboard controls to move underground and drill blocks.
- Collect and return: Grab resources and bring them back to the dome for processing.
- Defend the wave: When the alarm sounds, hop into the dome controls and aim the weapon to destroy attackers.
- Upgrade wisely: Open the upgrade tree to boost drill power, jetpack speed, dome health, weapon strength, or add gadgets.
- Win conditions: In Relic Hunt, locate and activate the relic. In Prestige, keep scoring until you are overrun.
- (Typical controls: keyboard for movement/drilling; mouse or keys to aim and fire the dome weapon. Check your in-game bindings.)
Tips for New Players 🧠
- Route planning: Tunnel in straight shafts with short side branches so you can return quickly when the alarm starts.
- Early economy: First prioritize drill power and jetpack speed; faster trips multiply your income.
- Weight control: If you are slow, drop a chunk or take fewer at once. Speed often saves more time than one extra resource.
- Radar/Scanner use: Vision tools help avoid empty digging and save the clock.
- Weapon focus: With the laser, buy rotation speed and damage early; with the sword, practice timing for the stab and slice.
- Repair timing: Keep a small cobalt reserve. Repair just enough to survive the next wave rather than topping off every time.
- Gadgets that pay off: A lift or similar transport helps mid-game efficiency by moving resources while you mine.
Why Players Like It 🎯
- Clear loop: Mine, upgrade, defend—simple to learn and easy to repeat.
- Meaningful choices: Every upgrade path changes how the run feels.
- Short runs: Quick sessions fit limited time, but depth rewards longer planning.
- Skill growth: Better routing, timing, and aim lead to higher scores and deeper progress.
A Short Review
Dome Keeper delivers a tight blend of resource management and timed combat. The pressure of the next wave keeps mining focused, and the upgrade tree pushes you to set priorities: dig faster or hit harder. Different weapons and gadgets create replayable runs, while the two modes support either a clear finish (Relic Hunt) or ongoing optimization (Prestige). The design rewards planning and adaptation without long rules or complex menus. If you enjoy learning efficient paths and improving under a timer, this game supports that loop well.
FAQ ❓
What is the goal in Relic Hunt?
Find the relic underground, bring its parts together, and activate it while keeping the dome intact.
How long does a run take?
A focused Relic Hunt can take under an hour; score runs in Prestige can go longer depending on your upgrades and defense.
— Start a run, drill a clean main shaft, and see how long your dome stands. ⛏️🛡️
