Dome Improvement: Gadgets Galore
Although we've already spent time talking about the primary gadgets you'll encounter in Dome Keeper, how about a little more information about the other gizmos and gadgets you'll come across, too?
Sure, you get to choose your primary gadget before you kick off each new Dome Keeper run, but there's also an incredible smorgasbord of tools and gadgets hidden in the rocks below your dome. Here's a rundown of some of the types of gadgets you may find, and what benefits they bring…
Inspect-our Gadgets
As well as the minerals and resources your Keeper needs to make upgrades and keep your dome in tip-top condition, beneath the surface you'll uncover secret chambers that contain helpful little gadgets, too.
Bring one back to your dome, and you'll get a choice: select one of two randomized gadgets, or sacrifice it for two extra cobalt pieces… and what you choose can make a big difference to your run!
Take Blast Mining, for instance. Drag it - or fling it! - to your preferred spot and it'll detonate, instantly excavating an area and saving you a lot of time. Alternatively, you can upgrade it so it digs out a long tunnel instead of a small square.
How about a Lift – that sounds handy, right? Set one up, gather your resources, and you'll be able to send them back to the dome, giving you extra precious time to keep digging whilst the elevator does the heavy lifting… literally!
A Teleporter, on the other hand, enables you to move quickly back and forth between the mine and the dome, cutting down your traveling time which - let's face it - can be the difference between life and death in Dome Keeper! What's that? You'd rather send back resources and fly home the scenic route? Well, you can do that, too, via an upgrade available in the Teleporter's tech tree – for that matter, every found gadget has its own upgrade pathways, too.
That's not all, though! We have a Condenser - a nifty machine that auto-magically generates water, which can be used to overcharge your primary gadget - and a Converter, which does exactly what it says on the tin and lets you convert excess materials, which is particularly useful if you're running low on one resource but have more than you need of another.
There's even a Probe that sends out an electronic impulse to show you exactly where nearby resources are hiding, saving your Keeper time and effort and ensuring your digging pattern is much more targeted.
Last but definitely not least: have you met Drillbert? He's your super cute dino pal who loves to dig and will scratch away wherever you place him, leaving you free to drill someplace else, essentially doubling your chances of unearthing something valuable. When he hits a dead-end he'll take a brief nap until you reposition him. You may even discover that he'll dig a little faster if a tasty treat or two is up for grabs!
Because each tech tree offers plentiful pathways and branches to upgrade your gadget, there are many, many ways to customize your gadgets, with every branch specially designed to address a particular aspect of the game: traveling time, resource management, getting materials back to the dome, and so on. Use them together, though – in synergy – and you'll open all kinds of neat shortcuts and ideas, making every run feel fresh and rewarding.
Make sure you're following Dome Keeper on Twitter or join our Discord and tell us all about your favorite gadgets, including your wishlist for the future! And don't forget: Dome Keeper is out now!
Until the next one, Keepers - Dome Sweet Dome!