Core Keeper

Release Date: August 27, 2024

RPG, fantasy, roguelike, 2D, dungeon-crawler, top-down, indie games, co-op, crafting, action RPG, Game Pass, multiplayer, singleplayer, internet

8.8

OpenCritic

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Action RPG with roguelike elements. In Core Keeper we play as an adventurer who explores the underground labyrinth, faces numerous opponents and acquires resources used to create useful items.

Videos and Screens

[1:32] Core Keeper Core Keeper - Version 1.0 Launch Date Trailer _ PC Gaming Show 2024

[1:00] Core Keeper Core Keeper - Console & PC 1.0 Release Date Announcement Trailer

8.8

OpenCritic Rating

Game is Recomended by 98% of Critics. There are 15 Critic Reviews.

OpenCritic

LadiesGamers.com: by James Luff

Core Keeper may not reinvent the survival genre, but it certainly adds its own charm and sense of wonder to it. The game succeeds in creating an atmosphere of exploration and discovery, allowing players to choose their path and take on the challenges of the caves at their own pace. It’s a title that respects your time, offering as much depth as you’re willing to invest, whether you’re a casual player looking for a relaxing escape or a survival enthusiast seeking a challenge. If crafting games isn’t your cup of tea, Core Keeper likely won’t change your mind. However, for those who enjoy gathering resources, building bases, and venturing into the unknown, this game is well worth a spot in your Switch library. Whether you tackle the game solo or team up with friends, Core Keeper offers enough content to keep you occupied for many weekends. It’s a game that encourages you to dig deeper, explore farther, and build smarter, turning every session into a unique journey. For fans of the genre, this is one game you’ll want to dig into on the Nintendo eShop.

Full Review

PC Gamer: 86 / 100 by Christopher Livingston

A sprawling survival game in a beautiful subterranean world.

Full Review

Forever Classic Games: 9.8 / 10 by Alex McCumbers

Core Keeper is the perfect introduction to crafting games, setting a new standard in approachability for the genre through clever game design.

Full Review

Core Keeper is an action RPG with various roguelike elements. It was developed by Pugstorm, an independent studio, and published by Fireshine Games.

Plot

Core Keeper takes us on a journey to a fantastic world. The pursuit of a mysterious relic ends for the main character with a wake-up call in a gigantic underground maze. Trapped in the caves, he will have to fight a real fight for survival.

Game mechanics

In Core Keeper we observe the action from a top-down view. Game offers us procedurally generated underground, made up of various biomes. Before we start the game we have to choose one of the game modes, which determine whether after the death we'll be reborn, losing equipment gathered in the backpack (but we'll be able to come back for it) or we'll be doomed to start the adventure all over again (permadeath).

Wandering through the vast labyrinth, we deal primarily with gathering resources, which are used to create various items. Thanks to an extensive crafting system we can create tools to improve the exploration and acquisition of resources (such as a pickaxe that allows you to crush walls or torches that give a little light), various improvements to our base, as well as more advanced structures (such as bridges that allow us to cross the underground rivers). In addition, we need to supply ourselves with better weapons and armor, because in the underground lurk numerous adversaries. Among them you'll find both cannon fodder and powerful creatures acting as bosses. The fights are dynamic and during them we have to show dexterity and reflexes.

In breaks from dangerous escapades we can devote ourselves to cultivating the land, where we plant the seeds we get on the way, and harvest crops and fish. Meals prepared on the basis of such ingredients provide us with various buffs, making further expeditions easier.