Game: Retro Relics
Genre: Exploration, Adventure, Simulation
System: Steam (Windows)
Developer | Publisher: HistoryXPlorer
Controller Support: Yes
Price: US $9.99 | UK £7.38| EU € 8.52
Release Date: January 5th 2026
Review code used, with many thanks to HistoryXPlorer.
Retro Relics is a short, relaxing role-playing game that hands players a trusty metal detector before sending them off to search for clients’ missing items and discover coins and relics for their personal collections.
New Metal Detectorist in Town
After choosing between one of two character models, I played through a short tutorial that explained the controls as I gathered my late grandpa’s old metal detection tools from his basement. In a chest, I also found a mysterious letter he had left behind with a request that I find and combine three artifact fragments to unlock the entrance to an ancient ruin.
Once neighbors hear of your venture into metal detecting, you begin receiving emails with requests to find missing items, from wedding rings to car keys. These quests will send you scouring various locations, including the beach, the farm, and the forest, in search of buried items (especially the three magical artifacts noted in grandpa’s letter).
Crash Course on Metal Detecting
The gameplay of Retro Relics is quite simple. The metal detector emits a beep when it hovers over a spot with an item underneath. You can also swing the metal detector left and right using the mouse buttons or set the metal detector to automatically swing back and forth with the spacebar. Once you’ve located an item, use your shovel to dig a wide hole. Finally, utilize the pinpointer (a mini, precise detector) to find the exact spot to dig and uncover your new object.
While the metal detection mechanic relies heavily on audio cues, players can also choose to rely on visual indicators instead. A significant red border flashes on the screen while a sparkle effect appears when the metal detector is hovered over an item. The pinpointer also glows red when hovered over the precise location of the buried object.
After meeting a specific NPC, you will also be given a side task of gathering and disposing of trash that’s been littered across the environment. Once a location has been sufficiently cleansed, different animal species, including turtles and red pandas, will return to their natural habitats—a heartwarming reward for the player!
Items Galore!
There are many items to discover and collect in Retro Relics, ranging from coins to tools to jewellery to military artifacts. I am finding little easter egg items, such as a diamond pickaxe that’s clearly from Minecraft.
Given the limited inventory space, players must choose to sell their collectables online for extra funds or store them at home in purchasable storage units. My inner loot goblin compelled me to keep one of each item before selling off the extras. With my hard-earned money, I was able to purchase new upgrades for my metal detector as well as display boards and tables to set up my personal museum at home.
Tiny Nitpicks and Bugs
While I enjoyed most of my experience with Retro Relics, I did encounter a few bugs during my playthrough. Sometimes, certain sprites, such as the returning animals, would inappropriately appear layered on top of my character’s sprite instead of under. In addition, trash cleanup at the beach was a bit frustrating because I couldn’t empty my garbage bag into the trash can once its bar was full (an issue that isn’t present with trash cans at other locations).
The game also crashed once while I was digging with my pinpointer near the entrance of the forest ruins. In the same location, the researcher NPC’s dialogue appeared to be incomplete, with a speech window that displayed only “o” and didn’t close automatically.
Conclusion
Retro Relics is a relatively short but satisfying game that felt as though I was having a conversation with the developer, enthusing about their passion for metal detecting. Overall, I enjoyed learning about the metal detecting hobby as I searched for buried items, built up my collection, and ultimately completed grandpa’s final request.
Final Verdict: I Like it a Lot
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