[PREVIEW] ITER-8 – Mine, Defend, Upgrade, Repeat, and Love Every Second

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As I continue building up my Steam Next Fest library with some truly unique finds, one that really stood out is ITER-8. At first glance, I might even call it minimalist, but don’t be fooled, because it doesn’t lean on minimalism at all. Instead, it blends resource gathering and mining with tower defense and combat. There’s a solid progression system where your upgrades make you stronger, and survival is a constant battle against hostile threats.

What really took me by surprise is how the game shifts between 2D and 3D perspectives, creating this unique sci-fi world where you scale towering alien pillars, digging into them in search of resources all the while just trying to survive. It’s a single-player adventure, but wow, was I surprised by how addictive it was. Even though the loop stays simple: mine, defend, upgrade, I just couldn’t stop playing. I ended up playing for a full 45 minutes, completely hooked, despite mostly repeating the same loop. There’s just something so satisfying about it all.

Gameplay that will hook you instantly

You spend your time mining, but it’s not just mindless clicking. You actively break through layers of different blocks, uncovering branching paths and hidden areas while also using special abilities like bombs to explore faster. Along the way you collect gems, which you return to your main base to fuel upgrades, but to reach more advanced levels, you also need golden cubes.

These cubes appear in open areas alongside the energy pillars. Once you find them, the game shifts from 2D to 3D and you need to connect energy to the pillar source. When connected, these upgrades let you boost your mining, your utility, and your base defense. In the research tree in your main base, you can upgrade yourself to carry more gems, mine faster, deal more damage, and fortify both your weapons and your base’s shield.

Additionally, as you continue mining, you also discover weird-shaped glowing cubes, each bringing different defensive systems. Because of them, you can unlock machine guns to help you destroy enemies or turrets to target flying threats. In general, you’ll be notified when waves of enemies approach. Then you take control of your turret, rotating and firing as enemies come from both sides.

It’s simple, however the danger ramps up. The machines start slow, but soon they become stronger and even send mini-bosses, massive turrets that can destroy your base in an instant. Everything is tied together: if you don’t explore, if you don’t mine and upgrade, you’ll fall behind, and when the enemy waves come, you’ll really feel it.

Another key element to note is that ITER-8 uses a roguelite iteration system. Yes, you may die, but each time you return, your replacement is stronger, and each iteration pushes you closer to mastering the challenges of the Pillar. So, every failure is a lesson: you take what you’ve learned, and you come back better equipped. The demo didn’t fully showcase this long-term progression, but it did an excellent job highlighting the core loop.

The Final Verdict

The demo has a decent amount of content; it gives you a good taste of how satisfying the game can be. And, as I mentioned, while it doesn’t show the full depth yet, it’s clear that the more you improve, the more you refine your skills. I left the demo feeling really excited; there’s a ton of potential, and I can’t wait to see how it all unfolds once the full game arrives.

If you’re someone who enjoys a simple loop of mining and tower defense without getting too bogged down in complexity, then ITER-8 is for you. It keeps things straightforward, but it balances that with a surprising depth of roguelite progression and strategic action. The sci-fi setting is unique with industrial, alien aesthetic, rich with detail and the UI is elegant, never cluttering your view. Overall, it’s just a really fun, satisfying experience, and if you’re looking for a fresh pick this Steam Next Fest, this one absolutely deserves a spot on your radar.