Overlooked Studio
THE NUGGET / COMPARISON
The Nugget vs Gold Mining Simulator
Three gold mining games on Steam, three different takes. Here is a plain comparison based on each game's public store page, so you can pick the one that fits how you like to play.
The three games
Gold Mining Simulator by Code Horizon came out in 2017 as Gold Rush: The Game and was later renamed. It is set in Alaska and focuses on heavy machinery, a growing wash plant and four claims with deformable terrain. A Definitive Edition is announced for 11 November 2026.
Gold Mining Simulator 2 is the announced sequel, again in Alaska, with multiplayer, camp building, weather and a market. A free demo has been on Steam since June 2026; the release date is still to be announced.
The Nugget is our game. It is set in the Australian outback and starts with a metal detector and a pan. It adds survival needs and online co-op, and it is coming to Steam Early Access.
Comparison table
| The Nugget | Gold Mining Simulator | Gold Mining Simulator 2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Developer | OverLKD Studio (solo developer) | Code Horizon, published by PlayWay | Code Horizon, published by PlayWay |
| Setting | Australian outback | Alaska | Alaska, five biomes |
| Status | Coming to Steam Early Access in 2026. Free demo since 7 Oct 2026 | Released 13 Oct 2017 (as Gold Rush: The Game). Definitive Edition announced for 11 Nov 2026 | In development, release date to be announced. Free demo since June 2026 |
| View | First person | First person | First person |
| Core loop | Metal detecting, panning, digging, washing paydirt, leasing claims, selling gold | Hand tools to heavy machinery, wash plant upgrades, four claims with deformable terrain | Heavy machinery, editable terrain, camp building, market, side jobs |
| Survival needs | Food, water, heat and fuel, sleeping, cooking | Not described on the store page | Camp and weather, no survival stats described |
| Machines and vehicles | Detectors, pan, shovel, wash plant and trommel, water pump, excavator, pickup and caravan | Excavator, drill, front-end loader, bulldozer and more, wash plant parts | Excavators, wash plants and other mining machines |
| Machine upkeep | Fuel, water and power supply for equipment | Parts break and need repair | Maintenance, repairs and upgrades |
| Multiplayer | Online co-op for up to 4 players, still being improved | Single player | Single player and online multiplayer |
| Controller | Keyboard and mouse or gamepad | Full controller support (Steam) | Full controller support (Steam) |
| Languages | 31 interface languages | 13 languages | 24 languages |
| Platforms | Windows. macOS is listed on Steam but not released yet | Windows | Windows |
| Price tier | Not announced yet. Demo is free | EUR 19.99 standard price on Steam Germany | Not announced yet. Demo is free |
| Storage (minimum) | 6 GB | 19 GB | 50 GB, SSD required |
| Minimum GPU | GeForce GTX 1060 6 GB or Radeon RX 580 8 GB | GeForce GTX 760 | GeForce GTX 1060, Radeon RX 590 or Arc A580 (6 GB VRAM) |
Store facts checked on 7 November 2026.
How to choose
Want a finished game with lots of machine content right now? Gold Mining Simulator has been out for years. Curious about the next big Alaska game? Try the Gold Mining Simulator 2 demo. Want to detect nuggets in the outback, keep a camp alive and play with friends? Play the free demo of The Nugget.
Gold mining shows on TV have made a lot of people curious about this hobby, from the Alaskan crews in Gold Rush to the detector prospectors in Aussie Gold Hunters. All three games draw on that real world, in different places.
The Nugget is made by OverLKD Studio. Gold Mining Simulator (formerly Gold Rush: The Game) and Gold Mining Simulator 2 are separate products by Code Horizon, published by PlayWay. Gold Rush and Aussie Gold Hunters are TV series by Discovery. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by any of them; names are used only to describe the comparison. Prices and features can change, so check each store page.