What's Next: April Update Preview

It's been almost 2 weeks since the last patch and I wanted to talk a bit about what's coming next in Hold The Mine. First, let me reassure you: yes, new stuff is on the way! I'm currently working on a brand new hero, a new shop, a unique perk system (meta progression), and a new enemy among many other things. Let's jump right in!

The next big update is planned for April 16. You'll have to be patient just a little longer but I can assure you, it will be worth the wait, whether you've only just started playing the game a few days ago or have already logged dozens of hours into it.

The Dwarf Perks System (meta prog)

Many of you requested it, I'm glad to say it's finally coming! Dwarf perks are bonus nodes that allow you to gain benefits for future runs and customize your experience. Your choices matter: many perks are exclusives, meaning you have to pick one or the other, depending on how you play and what you like the most in the game.

To unlock those perks, you'll have to find Mithril Shards in the mine, a brand new resource kept between runs. You won't be able to unlock everything, you'll have to make choices: the goal is to allow each player to create its own build.

New Hero: The Engineer

The Engineer is a brand new hero specialized in the Summon synergy. As an expert in advanced dwarf technology, she uses her skills and knowledge to deploy turrets, mines and traps on the battlefield.

Steam post imageSteam post image

Mine Generation Rework & Demolition Service

With some perks of the new meta progression system changing how the mine is generated, it was necessary for me to make some adjustments and finally adress some issues.

If the first few days are really fun to explore, the mine becomes less and less interesting as you progress deeper. Ruins are a big part of what makes exploration engaging but as you go deeper, there are fewer ruins to find. The rework changes how the ruins are spread through the mine, making long runs more interesting without breaking the fun of the early days.

If you think every run feels the same, it's mainly because the amount of ruins available within a single run is so high, a big chunk of the building available in the game can be constructed. The rework will introduce some limitations to the amount of ruins available but also include several building buffs and a new way to replace an existing constructed building during the run.

The upcoming new shop allows players to demolish an existing building and use the spot to construct something new. It means you'll be able to pivot your build during the run more easily and change your strategy depending on the buildings and relics you find.

For example, constructing the Glorious Statue building is really interesting early on, but doesn't really provide more damage for harder nights. With the new shop, you'll be able to demolish the building once you think it no longer provides enough benefit and needs more damage focused buildings.

Other Upcoming Additions and Changes

This update will be the biggest the game ever received. Here is a list of things I'm working on and will most likely be included:

• 3rd Boss (exclusive to Ice Biome)

• New Buildings and Relics

• New end game enemy

• Lot of balancing changes

• Lot of bug fixes

• ...

What about Mid Run Save?

The April update is big and brings a lot of important changes, including several technical stuff that alter how the game works. This is the reason why the mid run save is still not ready. This is probably the next big thing I will work on after this update, as many of you requested it.

And the Conquest Mode?

Regarding the Conquest Mode and based on your feedback, I took the decision to delay this new addition, as more work on the main run format was more urgent. It's still planned, most likely this summer.

That's all for today, thank you so much for all the support!

paci

Join the Hold The Mine Community

Come be part of the Hold The Mine community. Join us on Discord (link) to share your thoughts, talk with other players, share your tips and see what others are building underground. You can also find updates and discussions on Reddit (link).