Mine by day, manage by night! “Mining Merchant” is an easy mining game with rewarding upgrades [Game*Spark Robo-Game Catalog]

"Robots" are one of the classic genres in anime and video games. Robots in these works come in a wide variety of forms—from giant piloted models to autonomous ones that seem to possess a will of their own, to cute, mascot-like types—and each has its own unique appeal.

The [Gemspa Robo Game Catalog] is a series designed to introduce gamers to wonderful robot games from all eras and regions. This time, we’re featuring “Mining Merchant,” a mining game released for PC (Steam) on May 1, 2026.

The Third Installment in the “Robots × Mining” Series

*Mining Merchant* is a title developed by Delayed Victory, the studio run by Barry, an independent game developer from the Netherlands. In addition to developing titles such as *Mining Mechs*, *Super Mining Mechs*, and *Farm to Fortune*, the studio has also been active in game publishing in recent years.

Barry recalls being completely absorbed as a child in the Flash game *Motherload*, released by XGen Studios in 2004, which has been a major influence on his decision to create mining games himself.After creating his debut title, *Mining Mechs*, in 2023, *Mining Merchant*—the game featured here—serves as a spin-off of the third main entry in the series.

“After playing for over 50 hours, we’ve received a lot of requests for additional content.” *Mining Merchant*, a shop-management mining game [Developer Interview] | Game*Spark - Domestic and International Game Information Site

This series features interviews with developers of intriguing new indie games. This time, we bring you a mini-interview with the developer of *Mining Merchant*, a shop-management mining game developed by Delayed Victory and released for PC on May 1.

https://www.gamespark.jp/article/2026/07/17/169398.htmlRead more »

The game blends elements of mining and business simulation. To rebuild the protagonist’s uncle’s jewelry store, players mine ore and gems underground, craft them into accessories, sell them, and upgrade their shop and mechs. In addition to solo play, the game supports cooperative multiplayer for up to four players.

As they rebuild the shop, the protagonist meets various characters and eventually sets out to investigate the cause of the frequent earthquakes plaguing the region. With no damage or combat mechanics, players can enjoy mining at their own leisurely pace while progressing through the story.

On October 30, 2026, the major DLC “Dino Discovery” was released, allowing players to mine, restore, and display dinosaur fossils. Additionally, around the same time, all three titles in the series received a major overhaul to commemorate the series’ third anniversary.

Create the Ultimate Jewelry Shop!

First, you’ll decide on your character’s appearance. You can customize their body type, hairstyle, and clothing, and make changes at any time using the mirror in the shop during the game. The game begins with your character arriving in town to help out at the shop run by Uncle Barry. However, Uncle Barry’s shop is in far worse shape than expected.

To start, you’ll display and sell merchandise as part of a business management tutorial. Customers have a patience meter, and if you don’t ring them up in time, they’ll leave. You successfully complete your first day of business, but since the two rings you had in stock sold out, you’ll need to restock.

The next day, you’ll go mining at a junkyard run by one of Barry’s acquaintances. Mining involves boarding a special mech, digging into the ground, and retrieving ores and other resources buried underground.The mech has maximum load limits for “mined items” and “dirt”; once it’s full, you can’t mine any more, so you’ll have to unload the cargo on the surface.

Once you’ve gathered the ore, it’s time to start processing it. In this game, refining and processing ore requires playing a dedicated minigame. Once you’ve completed a product, it becomes available for automated processing, so if you add it to the queue, it will be crafted while you’re mining. Note that mining ends once the “Dirt Dump” on the surface is full.

Mine, Craft, Sell, Upgrade

The game cycle in *Mining Merchant* consists of a repetition of mining and processing during the day, followed by selling at your shop at night. During the sales phase, you’ll be prompted to close shop once your inventory runs out or a certain amount of time has passed, but you can generally end each phase at any time you choose.

The money you earn can be used for various upgrades. For your shop, you can expand the sales area or add shelves; for your Mech, you can enhance its base stats. As the story progresses, new crafting facilities become available, and the variety of Mechs and support drones increases, leading to a steady expansion of upgrade options.

You’ll also use money to purchase or expand mining rights. As you progress through the game, the number of mineable locations increases, and you can purchase additional “ore storage slots” to expand your capacity. Naturally, more storage slots mean you can mine a larger volume at once, which in turn leads to a wider selection of goods to sell in your shop.

Once you’re able to mine large quantities of ore and valuable gems, your profits at the shop will skyrocket. There are also NPC quests and town festivals where you can earn money, so as long as you keep mining diligently, you’ll never have trouble making money. Of course, upgrades cost a fair amount of money, so there’s no time to rest…

Unravel the Mystery of the Earthquakes! Or Maybe Even Use Them to Your Advantage?

Earthquakes occur almost daily in the town where this game is set. The residents seem to have gotten used to them, but the problem is that these earthquakes cause “mining sites to collapse,” altering the terrain. This is a major issue because digging deeper into each mining site reveals new biomes and allows you to obtain valuable minerals.

As you progress through the game, you’ll be able to modify the truck you use to reach the mining sites and attach a massive drill to dig underground. Descending into the holes you’ve drilled not only lets you travel deep underground in one go but also eliminates the need to haul away soil—which otherwise limits mining—so your mining pace will increase significantly.

Additionally, the main quest involves investigating the cause of the earthquakes at each mining site; resolving these issues will stop the terrain from changing. Furthermore, by exploiting these causes, you’ll be able to trigger terrain changes at will, allowing you to regenerate resources after you’ve mined an area dry.

The game also features skills and items specific to each Mech. For example, bombs destroy surrounding terrain, allowing you to move across the ground without digging through soil, and a teleporter lets you return to the surface instantly. Since the core of mining is “how to collect minerals without digging through soil,” don’t hesitate to invest in upgrades and items.

Upgrades, in particular, offer easily noticeable benefits in this game, and reaching certain upgrade levels unlocks passive abilities. Since earning money is essential for this, it’s fun to consider the right balance between investing in shops, Mechs, and crafting.

“Mining Merchant” is a game that blends a classic mining experience with a management simulation where players make their own choices and take action. The game progresses quickly—including upgrades—yet you can still enjoy it at your own pace, allowing you to play in whatever style suits you best.

As you progress, tasks like processing goods and handling store transactions become automated, making various aspects of gameplay even more comfortable. The game features a Japanese translation, making quests and dialogues easy to understand, and its overall accessibility is one of its key appeals.

Development remains active, with not only the release of major DLC but also overhauls of past titles. We’ll definitely be keeping an eye on the series’ future developments!