- Games
- Core Keeper
Core Keeper
Build an underground home with friends, mine new paths and prepare for giant cave monsters.
Online co-op for up to 8 players. Crossplay only between PlayStation consoles.
- 8 online
Where to buy
Playing together
- Online co-op8 players
- Local co-opNot confirmed
- YesOnly between PlayStation consolesFriends on different platforms, such as PC and PlayStation, can play together.
- YesA friend can join or leave while you are already playing, without starting over.
- Not confirmedFriends play free with a Friend's Pass or similar.
- Steam DeckVerifiedValve's own rating
About the game
You wake beside a strange machine deep underground. Digging opens paths through dirt and stone, bringing back ore for tools, weapons and a base. Beyond the first tunnels, you find different regions, old ruins and huge monsters. Crops, cooking, fishing and machines give you other ways to spend an evening as your equipment improves.
You share a lasting world with friends online. One of you can work on the house while another explores or gathers supplies. Bosses give the group a reason to prepare food, equipment and traps together. Quiet work at home sits between dangerous trips into the caves. It suits a group that likes choosing its own projects and learning through discovery.
How it feels
Kind of game
One lasting world your group settles. You gather, build and push into dangerous places together.
- Now and then
- Fear
- Story
- Working in sync
- Puzzles and figuring out
- Sessions
- Ongoing world
Rated on our own feel scale. 5 sources back these ratings.
Screenshots
From the Steam store page. Open one to see it full size.
If you liked Core Keeper
You will probably enjoy these too. Each one says why.
Romestead
Why it scores 94%
What they share
- Kind of game
- Shared survival world
- About
- Monsters
- Notable in both
- Calm and coziness, Time to hang out, Exploring, Tension and danger, Planning ahead, Getting better, Fighting
- Core to both
- Building and creating, Unlocks and progress
- Sessions
- Ongoing world
- Co-op
- Online co-op for up to 8 players
- Early access
- 8 online
Both give your group a hard world to survive in together. Both are about monsters that hunt you. Both have long calm stretches.
No big difference from Core Keeper.
ICARUS
Why it scores 88%
What they share
- Kind of game
- Shared survival world
- About
- Mining
- Notable in both
- Calm and coziness, Time to hang out, Tension and danger, Planning ahead, Getting better, Fighting
- Core to both
- Exploring, Building and creating, Unlocks and progress
- Sessions
- Ongoing world
- Co-op
- Online co-op for up to 8 players
- 8 online
Both give your group a hard world to survive in together. Both are about mining and digging. Both are about exploring places you have not seen.
No big difference from Core Keeper.
Necesse
Why it scores 88%
What they share
- Kind of game
- Shared survival world
- About
- Mining
- Notable in both
- Calm and coziness, Time to hang out, Tension and danger, Planning ahead, Getting better, Fighting
- Core to both
- Exploring, Building and creating, Unlocks and progress
- Sessions
- Ongoing world
- Co-op
- Online co-op
- 250 online
Both give your group a hard world to survive in together. Both are about mining and digging. Both have long calm stretches.
No big difference from Core Keeper.
All co-op facts
Last checked 24 October 2026. The small numbers link to the page that states each fact.
Co-op
- Fewest players online
- Not confirmed
- Local co-op
- Not confirmed
- Most players on one screen
- Not confirmed
- Split or shared screen
- Not confirmed
- Separate-device co-op
- Not confirmed
- Most players on separate devices
- Not confirmed
- Free base co-op
- No
The checked computer full-base edition has a paid base-game access model. Demos, trials, guest passes, platform sharing and temporary grants do not establish ongoing free base co-op.
- 361112131415
- Confirmed free setups
- Does not apply
- Only one of you needs to buy it
- Not confirmed
- Voice chat by distance
- Not confirmed
Platforms
Genres
Store IDs
- Wikidata item
- Not confirmed
Sources
15 pages
fireshinegames.co.ukOfficial site, read 24 October 2026
Backs Online co-op, Most players online, Friends can join mid-game, Genres, About, Kind of game, Sessions, Building and creating, Unlocks and progress.
- Online co-op: Describes online co-op.
- Most players online: Names a group of two to eight.
- Friends can join mid-game: Explicitly describes joining and leaving during play.
- Genres: Calls the game a mining sandbox adventure.
- About: Mining resources and fighting underground creatures shape the setting.
- Kind of game: Friends settle a base and gather resources in the same world.
- Sessions: Base construction, automation and dedicated servers support returning to one world.
- Building and creating: Bases and lasting production systems are central activities.
- Unlocks and progress: Skills, tools, equipment and talent points improve over time.
fireshinegames.co.ukOfficial support page, read 24 October 2026
Backs Most players online, Crossplay, Crossplay between, Platforms.
- Most players online: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series support eight. Switch supports four. Switch 2 has eight in its separate Nintendo listing.
- Crossplay: Supports play across generations within console families. PC and consoles cannot play together.
- Crossplay between: Listed group is PS4 with PS5. Xbox One with Xbox Series is a separate group. PC storefronts form another pool.
- Platforms: Confirms the released console versions. Steam data confirms Windows and Linux.
store.steampowered.comStore page, read 24 October 2026
Backs Release status, Release date, Story, Puzzles and figuring out, Free base co-op.
- Release status: The current page sells the full game without an Early Access banner.
- Release date: Shows the full release on 27 August 2024.
- Story: The Core and ancient inhabitants provide a mystery behind the activities.
- Puzzles and figuring out: Exploration includes discovering secrets and interpreting unfamiliar items.
- Free base co-op: The checked computer full-base edition has a paid base-game access model. Demos, trials, guest passes, platform sharing and temporary grants do not establish ongoing free base co-op.
store.steampowered.comStore data, read 24 October 2026
Backs Steam app ID, Platforms.
- Steam app ID: Steam lists Core Keeper as app 1621690.
- Platforms: Windows and Linux builds are listed.
store.steampowered.comStore data, read 23 October 2026
Backs Steam Deck.
- Steam Deck: Valve rates the game Verified on Steam Deck.
nintendo.comStore page, read 24 October 2026
Backs Platforms, Most players online, Free base co-op.
- Platforms: The distinct Switch 2 Edition released January 28, 2026.
- Most players online: The native Switch 2 Edition supports eight online. The original Switch software supports four, including when that original edition runs compatibly on Switch 2.
- Free base co-op: The checked Nintendo full-base edition has a paid base-game access model. Demos, trials, guest passes, platform sharing and temporary grants do not establish ongoing free base co-op.
pcgamer.comPress, read 24 October 2026
Backs Fear, Tension and danger, Calm and coziness, Exploring, Fighting, Getting better, Planning ahead.
- Fear: PC Gamer, 2024-09-17, describes darker and scarier depths.
- Tension and danger: Dangerous trips and difficult bosses alternate with safety at home.
- Calm and coziness: The review describes a comfortable base to return to.
- Exploring: Large underground regions and unexpected discoveries drive play.
- Fighting: Monsters and bosses regularly interrupt gathering.
- Getting better: Bosses require repeated attempts and changed tactics.
- Planning ahead: Preparing a boss chamber with traps can help.
gamespew.comPress, read 23 October 2026
Backs Exploring.
- Exploring: GameSpew, 2024-08-26, describes discovery and experimentation as the main appeal.
nintendolife.comPress, read 24 October 2026
Backs Puzzles and figuring out, Working in sync, Time to hang out.
- Puzzles and figuring out: Nintendo Life, 2024-10-29, describes learning unfamiliar objects through discovery.
- Working in sync: Nintendo Life, 2024-10-29, describes dividing tasks to cover more ground.
- Time to hang out: The review describes optional goals with no deadline, supporting low-focus work between trips.
steamcommunity.comOfficial support page, read 24 October 2026
Backs Crossplay, Platforms.
- Crossplay: The pinned developer FAQ confirms cross-generation play and PC store compatibility. It denies play across console families and PC. The publisher FAQ names the generation pairs.
- Platforms: The developer lists Windows, Linux, both PlayStation generations, both Xbox generations and both Switch generations as available.
gog.comStore page, read 24 October 2026
Backs Free base co-op.
- Free base co-op: The checked computer full-base edition has a paid base-game access model. Demos, trials, guest passes, platform sharing and temporary grants do not establish ongoing free base co-op.
store.epicgames.comStore page, read 24 October 2026
Backs Free base co-op.
- Free base co-op: The checked computer full-base edition has a paid base-game access model. Demos, trials, guest passes, platform sharing and temporary grants do not establish ongoing free base co-op.
store.playstation.comStore page, read 24 October 2026
Backs Free base co-op.
- Free base co-op: The checked PlayStation full-base edition has a paid base-game access model. Demos, trials, guest passes, platform sharing and temporary grants do not establish ongoing free base co-op.
xbox.comStore page, read 24 October 2026
Backs Free base co-op.
- Free base co-op: The checked Xbox full-base edition has a paid base-game access model. Demos, trials, guest passes, platform sharing and temporary grants do not establish ongoing free base co-op.
nintendo.comStore page, read 24 October 2026
Backs Free base co-op.
- Free base co-op: The checked Nintendo full-base edition has a paid base-game access model. Demos, trials, guest passes, platform sharing and temporary grants do not establish ongoing free base co-op.