I’m constantly being betrayed by Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor’s shiny snail

I play as a solo dwarf in Deep Rock Galactic: SurvivorArmed with weapons, I run around the mines of Hoxxes IV in search of valuable minerals. I gun down hordes of monsters, dig up caches of supplies, and upgrade my weapons to fire even more hot death. But there’s one thing that always catches my attention and turns me into a homing missile. It’s a crazy little slug, and it brings me so much joy.

The snail, known as the Huuli Hoarder, functions much like the Treasure Goblin from the Diablo franchise. It appears without warning, and its presence can be the highlight of a run. The snail will let out a high-pitched, low shriek when it spots a dwarf, wiggle its butt, and flee off-screen. There’s a built-in risk/reward here; chasing down and killing the snail will net you a large chunk of experience and a random upgrade. But the snail will flee wherever it wants — often to environmental hazards, large masses of monsters, or a small corner of the map.

Each level only lasts for a certain amount of time; the time you spend chasing a snail could be worth it… or it can lead to an overall loss of resources as you leave mining nodes and gain experience on the map. After all, you are an employee of a company digging beneath the crust of a hostile planet to kill aliens and make a profit. It’s a pretty confined situation and positioning is very important if you want to stay out of reach of the endless swarms of aliens.

This video from YouTuber RubyWeapon shows the Hoarder in action, and I hope its little scream and wiggle brings you as much joy as it does me. It can’t even attack! It’s just a scared pacifist in a lonely cave, endlessly trying to run away.

Players have been bullying this little snail for years Deep rock galacticbut i like the solo character of Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor makes the process of hunting a snail more personal than the original four-player game. Sorry, buddy, I’m not locked in here with you — you’re locked in here with me.

Sometimes it’s tactically feasible to prioritize chasing down the Huuli Hoarder, as it can grant augments or a huge amount of resources. Unfortunately, I’ve ended many a run on a snail binge, chasing the thing to a choke point only to be swarmed and killed. I have to admit, I don’t always think long-term. Sometimes just catching a glimpse of a Huuli Hoarder triggers some part of my primal lizard brain and I lose all control. I have to go after it. I have to get the snail.

The Treasure Goblin-style monster isn’t super rare in games; it’s more of a fun curveball to throw at players. But there’s something so pathetic about the Huuli Hoarder that it lives in my mind, rent-free. Its little squeals, its pointless wobbling, and its utter cowardice speak to me. In many ways, I am a Huuli Hoarder myself.

Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor has been quite successful as a spin-off, and it helps that there’s already a full rogues gallery of beasts from the core co-op game. I haven’t been able to reliably assemble a full four-player squad yet, but I can always go for a round or two of Survivor between other obligations. It’s a simple pleasure, punctuated by delightful highs—like encountering and cracking open a silly little Huuli Hoarder.