Has potential. Better controls would help a lot. Using the common w/a/s/d is a problem because CTRL + S is a safe file shortcut, so many players will have to use the arrow keys - two hands on keyboard.
I'd recommend making it playable with one hand plus mouse; so Left Click rather than CTRL as action button. I don't care for the force-stopping when mining either. I'd suggest that holding e.g. Left + Action Button will just let me walk left, unless/until there is something to mine in front of me. So you can just hold it down to strip-mine a whole row, for instance. I'd use another button for ladders, maybe just L.
There's space at the bottom of the screen, so you might put a little UI strip with instructions/controls down there; better if players don't have to scroll down to the description to see how to play.
I think those changes would reduce the control-related friction that can make it confusing/awkward to play. And then of course, whatever cool upgrades and stuff you might add would make it more fun :)