Checkpoints in Dig Three are not just rest stops. They are where you find your stranded crewmates, hear their stories, collect upgrades, and decide whether to continue deeper or teleport back to the surface shop. Each checkpoint is a different underground biome with its own atmosphere.
When you pass through a checkpoint, the characters cheer you on. "You got this!" "Keep it going!" "Looking strong!" These shoutouts from your crew keep the energy up during long digs. But the real stories unfold when you stop and talk to whoever is waiting there.
The Forest Start
Every run begins in the forest. YLO wakes up here after a rough landing. "Brhh! Nice landing..." is the first thought, followed by confusion. "Where am I?" The forest is your tutorial zone - rocks are spaced out, crystals are easy to reach, and the art is lush with tall trees and thick roots.
The forest sets the tone. YLO is alone, crew is missing, and the only way to find them is down. "I wonder what happened to the others?" Before every subsequent dive, random thoughts remind you of the mission. "I hope Mri is OK." "They're probably looking for irriduem."
Jungle Rock
The jungle checkpoint is usually the first real discovery. The art shifts to lush green vegetation growing underground, fed by some unknown light source. The hand-painted vegetation is some of the most detailed in the game, and the contrast against the surrounding brown earth makes it feel like finding a lost world.
This is where you find TVI, your first crewmate. The reunion is warm and hopeful. TVI has been stuck here with a broken crankshaft but already has a plan figured out. The jungle checkpoint is a turning point - proof that the crew survived the landing and that there is a reason to keep going deeper.
TVI offers hull upgrades from the broken drill and sends you off with renewed determination. The jungle checkpoint is where the game shifts from survival to rescue mission.
Waterfall
The waterfall checkpoint is harder to reach and more dramatic to discover. A massive underground waterfall cascading down one side of the screen, with mist effects and wet, darker rocks. The water animation runs constantly in the background, giving it a sense of motion that no other biome has.
The crewmate waiting here is in more desperate shape. Time is running out. The urgency of this checkpoint drives you to dig faster - there is a real cost to taking too long between runs. The engine upgrade you receive here is a significant boost.
The Mine
The mine looks like exactly what the expedition was searching for. Rail tracks, wooden support beams, and irriduem everywhere. Someone has been digging here before you. But something is wrong.
What you find here is a warning. Not all irriduem is safe, and the consequences of taking the wrong kind are severe. The mine is the emotional turning point of the story - the moment when the game makes clear that this underground world has real dangers beyond rocks and running out of health.
The drill upgrade from this checkpoint helps, but the conversation that comes with it stays with you. This is where Dig Three's story gets genuinely heavy.
Beyond the Mine
There are checkpoints deeper than the mine. We will not spoil what you find there, but the underground has more surprises waiting. Crystal formations, lava rock, and places that change whoever stays too long. The crew members you meet further down have been through things that make TVI's broken crankshaft look simple.
The final checkpoint is called home. What you find there is worth the entire expedition.
Finding Checkpoints
Not every run encounters the same checkpoints. The biomes you discover depend on your depth and path. To find deeper checkpoints:
- Keep upgrading hull, drill, and engine between runs
- Use nitro strategically to push through rock-heavy sections
- Vary your horizontal position - some checkpoints trigger from specific sides
- Use the teleport system: reach a checkpoint, upgrade at the shop, return and continue deeper
Part of the magic of Dig Three is that each checkpoint reveals more of the story. Keep digging and you will keep discovering.