Missile in a Mineshaft is a roguelite cave runner by Dan Beeston, released in August, 2026.
The moment you start the game you think it could have been an Atari 2600 or an Apple II title. The missile you’re tasked to navigate is making its way through a mineshaft that becomes more and more narrow. The tunnel is twisting and turning like a snake and then it inevitably catches you off guard in a particularly tight spot.
This is where the illusion breaks. Instead making you start again from the very beginning, Missile in a Mineshaft throws you into an upgrade screen where you can enhance your rocket-propelled projectiles with various types of modifications in exchange for some of materials you’ve managed to mine by crashing into rock-hard walls.
![Missile in a Mineshaft [Gameplay 1] /// Pico-8 Adventures](https://www.lastofavari.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Pico-8-Missile_in_a_Mineshaft-1.png)
![Missile in a Mineshaft [Gameplay 2] /// Pico-8 Adventures](https://www.lastofavari.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Pico-8-Missile_in_a_Mineshaft-2.png)
![Missile in a Mineshaft [Gameplay 3] /// Pico-8 Adventures](https://www.lastofavari.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Pico-8-Missile_in_a_Mineshaft-3.png)
Improving yields of precious and sometimes radioactive metals you extract is an obvious choice, but the menu is full of interesting options providing better control, maneuverability an even adding lasers!
It’s definitely a meaningful upgrade of a classic idea that brings it to life once again and makes it accessible and fun for new players.
When it comes to graphics, it’s a very era-appropriate level of detail, authentic to late 70’s and early 80’s. The game is not trying to do anything crazy, yet I want to note that the title screen art looks top tier majorly improving the first impression of the game.
The sound effects maintain the same retro feel and I loved the sound of a player missile explosion. What didn’t I love as much was the balance between the volume of these effects and music. The tune is simple and atmospheric, but it’s also too quiet, so if you decide to bring your volume up you’ll be deafened by an explosion half a minute later.
Summing up, Missile in a Mineshaft is one of those titles where the real value lies in gameplay, and, thanks to its rogue-lite mechanics, replayability factor goes through the roof.
This is why I can easily recommend this game even to casual players and give it an Avarian Thumbs Up!
Play the game on Lexaloffle Pico-8 BBS.
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