Summary

  • The cozy indie survival game Core Keeper is now available for free for Xbox Game Pass subscribers, but only for members of the service's PC and Ultimate tiers.
  • The title fully launched today after over two years in early access and currently boasts a Very Positive overall rating on Steam.
  • It's been praised for creativity and challenge, garnering a Very Positive rating on Steam.

Core Keeper, a new co-op game on Steam that has managed to garner a Very Positive overall rating on the platform, is now part of the Xbox Game Pass catalog. The Unity-powered indie game, which entered early access in 2022, fully launched on August 27, 2024.

Developed by Swedish studio Pugstorm, Core Keeper is a cozy survival game that many have compared to the likes of Stardew Valley and Valheim. While the mining sandbox adventure is only available on the PC and the latest Sony and Microsoft consoles for now, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Switch ports of Core Keeper are expected to be released on September 17. Coinciding with the full release of Core Keeper, the game has also been added to the Xbox Game Pass service, but only those subscribed to two specific plans can play Pugstorm's newest project at no extra cost.

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Core Keeper joins the collection of Xbox Game Pass titles that are freely available to members of the service's PC and Ultimate tiers. Those on the console-centric Game Pass Core plan, which is the evolution of Xbox Live Gold, either have to upgrade their subscriptions or buy Pugstorm's newest release for $19.99 if they want to play the game on their computer or Xbox machines. According to Xbox's website, Game Pass Ultimate subscribers have access to more than 500 games, while only around 40 are available for those on Core.

Core Keeper Joins Other New Titles Released on Xbox Games Pass in August

In addition to Core Keeper, Mafia: Definitive Edition and Creatures of Ava were also added to the pool of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate console titles this month. There were new Xbox Game Pass Core titles in August as well, namely the Ultimate Edition of Remedy Entertainment's acclaimed action game Control, Paradox Interactive's popular city builder Cities: Skylines, and Saber Interactive's off-road vehicle simulator SnowRunner.

Age of Mythology: Retold, Ara: History Untold, Frostpunk 2, Star Trucker, and Train Sim World 5 will be day-one releases on Xbox Game Pass in September. Subscribers can look forward to trying out the highly anticipated Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl when they're added to the service in October and November, respectively.

Core Keeper has already seen some incredibly positive reviews from critics, many of whom applaud the indie title for its creativity and challenge. Its Very Positive overall rating on Steam is based on more than 26,000 player reviews.

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Core Keeper Tag Page Cover Art

Core Keeper
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Survival
Sandbox
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Systems
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Top Critic Avg: 87 /100 Critics Rec: 89%
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Released
August 27, 2024
ESRB
E For Everyone // Mild Fantasy Violence
Developer(s)
Pugstorm
Publisher(s)
Fireshine Games
Engine
Unity
Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer
Number of Players
1-4
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WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
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Awaken as an explorer in a long-forgotten cavern teeming with untold secrets. In this award-winning, 1-8 player mining sandbox adventure, your choices shape an epic journey. Harvest relics and resources, craft advanced tools, build your base, and explore a dynamically evolving world waiting to be unearthed.

Level up your skills, defeat legendary Titans, and unveil the power of the Core. Grow your garden, fish in mysterious waters, master a vast array of recipes, raise and care for animals, encounter the Cavelings, and carve out your own unique world in an enchanting underground adventure.

MINE RESOURCES

Delve deep to harvest precious resources and unearth hidden gems. Craft tools to help you survive, from pickaxes, fishing rods, and shovels to traps, bombs, and mortars. Upgrade your arsenal and equipment with advanced tools like the mighty Obliteration Ray, and automated machinery to streamline mining, smelting, storage, and more. Level up your skills and unlock powerful weapons to conquer the depths.

Genre(s)
Survival, Sandbox
How Long To Beat
25 Hours