Groundwork Simulator Wiki — Gold Mining, Excavators & Wash Plants

Groundwork Simulator Beginner Guide

Learn the core mining workflow in Groundwork Simulator, from the guided story-mode tutorial to your first gold recovery. The October 2026 Early Access build includes one playable map, heavy machinery, deformable terrain, and solo or online co-op play.

1. 1Start with the story mode's guided tutorial, which introduces the game's core machinery and mining systems.
2. 2Explore the playable map and use a drill rig to test the ground for gold-rich deposits before choosing a digging location.
3. 3Operate an excavator, adjusting bucket angle and hydraulic power to cut into the terrain and lift soil.
4. 4Move excavated material toward your processing area with hauling vehicles and loading equipment.
5. 5Set up the wash plant and connect pumps and hoses to supply the water needed for processing.
6. 6Feed promising material through the sluice boxes and process the resulting concentrate on the shaking table to recover gold.
7. 7Improve access routes when mud, steep slopes, or disturbed terrain make heavy equipment difficult to move.

Groundwork Simulator Release Date and Roadmap

Groundwork Simulator entered Steam Early Access on October 22, 2026, with a guided story mode and one playable map. See the official launch offer and proposed updates for maps, equipment, weather, modding, and the eventual full release.

Groundwork Simulator Gold Mining Guide

Follow the confirmed gold-recovery process, from prospecting and drilling to excavation, hauling, and final separation. This practical overview covers actual equipment and processing stages without inventing gold spawn coordinates or recovery percentages.

1. 1Explore the landscape for a promising gold-bearing area instead of immediately excavating random ground.
2. 2Use the truck-mounted drill rig to test the ground and investigate potential gold deposits.
3. 3Choose a deposit to work and shape a usable access route for your excavation and hauling equipment.
4. 4Dig gold-bearing material with an excavator and transfer it using a wheel loader or haul truck as appropriate.
5. 5Keep the wash plant supplied with both material and water from the pump-and-hose system.
6. 6Wash excavated material through sluice boxes to produce concentrate.
7. 7Process the concentrate on the shaking table to recover gold and repeat the cycle at the next promising deposit.

Groundwork Simulator Vehicles and Machinery

Explore the heavy-equipment types shown or named in official Groundwork Simulator materials. Each machine has a practical role in prospecting, excavation, earthmoving, transport, or worksite recovery, rather than an unsupported S-to-C ranking.

Groundwork Simulator Wash Plant Guide

Learn the developer-confirmed steps for building a working wash setup and separating gold from excavated soil. Pumps, hoses, sluice boxes, and a shaking table are essential components, although official sources do not specify numerical wash rates or guaranteed yields.

1. 1Choose a position for the wash plant that allows excavators and haul vehicles to deliver material.
2. 2Place pumps to bring water to the washing operation.
3. 3Route hoses from the water supply to the processing setup so water reaches the required equipment.
4. 4Bring gold-bearing soil from the excavation site and feed it into the wash plant.
5. 5Pass the material through the sluice boxes, which produce concentrate for further processing.
6. 6Process the concentrate on the shaking table to recover gold.
7. 7Adjust pump and hose placement as the worksite expands; the roadmap proposes additional wash plants and deeper controls in a later update.

Groundwork Simulator Co-op Guide

Coordinate a shared gold mine with up to three friends in Groundwork Simulator's online co-op mode. The developer confirms that players can divide excavation, transport, and processing work across the same site, but does not publish cross-platform matchmaking rules.

Groundwork Simulator Excavation and Transport Guide

Get better at moving soil and machinery across fully deformable terrain with simulated excavation resistance and heavy-vehicle traction. These steps use the documented hydraulic, mud, slope, and trailer systems rather than unverified button mappings or exact performance stats.

1. 1Survey the hillside and choose an excavation approach that will not block your future equipment routes.
2. 2Position the excavator and adjust its bucket angle to work with the simulated soil resistance and available hydraulic power.
3. 3Cut into the ground, fill the bucket, and lift the load; each scoop leaves a change in the terrain.
4. 4Manage spoil piles and use earthmoving machinery to improve the ground around the site.
5. 5Account for mud, slopes, and vehicle traction when selecting routes for loaded trucks.
6. 6Load heavy equipment onto a trailer and haul it by truck when moving to another worksite.
7. 7Take care on tight turns and uneven ground, then unload the machine close to the next job.

Groundwork Simulator System Requirements

Check the official Windows and Apple Silicon macOS requirements before installing Groundwork Simulator. Steam warns that detailed soil and water physics make the game unusually demanding on the processor.