SteamWorld Heist 2 is a very well-deserved follow-up to a tactical gem, arriving this August

The SteamWorld crew is back for another heist this summer. Thunderful Games announced SteamWorld Heist 2 during today’s Nintendo Indie World Showcase, locking it in for one more job on August 8, 2024.

The SteamWorld series has run the gamut of genres, from Metroidvanias to city-builders, and Heist is a particularly interesting one. The first SteamWorld Heist is a 2D, side-scrolling tactics game, where your crew engages in strategic battles with others. It’s a bit of an underrated entry in the SteamWorld oeuvre, and now, it’s getting a sequel in a whole new setting.

Heists ahoy

SteamWorld Heist 2 looks to ditch the space-faring setting of its predecessor, and instead aims for a nautical, pirate-themed adventure. New to this entry are naval battles, which take place in real-time and see you sinking ships on the overworld map.

Of course, you’ll also be recruiting various bots to your crew, each with their own abilities and specialties, and then roll into battle with them. Plus, a new job system and tons of customization options means you can really make your crew your own. In an IGN interview published soon after the showcase, producer Petter Magnusson calls Heist 2 a “milestone of size and scope for the series.”

The original SteamWorld Heist was a fascinating, clever approach to tactical battles, using the 2D space to its advantage for some great fights. Plus, it had tons of that SteamWorld charm. If SteamWorld Heist 2 can capture that same magic, we’re in for a good time this August.

SteamWorld Heist 2 is heading to Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation, and Xbox on August 8, 2024.