On September 21, the classic dungeon-digger Core Keeper released its latest update – 1.3 – adding rideable mounts, traversal tools, combat adjustments and a new biome to its legions of dedicated fans. I played Core Keeper for almost 40 hours in 2024 on the PS5 and loved my time with the game, though with the release of 1.3 I have now been playing the game on the Nintendo Switch 2 to both test its performance on the system and check out the new additions. As much of my memory was wiped from 2024 having reviewed many games since, this was a great opportunity to dive back in – especially as so many other survival/crafting games have released lately (Dune: Awakening and Runescape Dragonwilds are two examples reviewed).
Firstly, a bit about the game. In Core Keeper, you start with very little and must work your way outward to uncover the secrets of the underground world. This involves smashing walls to create new pathways in what is essentially the ultimate sandbox as you can build anything anywhere. The game balances survival (eat to live), crafting (construct all sorts of benches and houses), combat (you start with a type and then choose your path, be it melee, magic or ranged) and progression across biomes. There are bosses to defeat, pets to obtain and the opportunity to create railways through all the interlocking systems for fast travel. At the beginning, it can feel like slow going as you break down walls into dark areas with enemies lurking. Though once the stronger equipment is crafted (a particular hammer makes a massive difference to early mining) the world becomes clearer and the speed is amplified through mounts and electricity. The joy is that all of this can be played either alone or in co-op, and many systems can be tweaked to create the best experience for your preferences.
I originally played on the PlayStation 5, but this type of game really works on the go. Playing on a handheld system makes the pixel art pop, combining classic gameplay with all the perks of present day gaming. Being able to play the game with its latest update shows how far the game is willing to go to hone in on the most feature-loaded sandbox out there. Let’s dive further into the additions.
Rideable mounts assist navigation and traversal. Before you have trains moving through all parts of the map, your exploration is best achieved through speed. With the 1.3 update, all cattle can now be a mount using the item labelled ‘saddle’. You can also name them and set their behavior. Now, when we say mounts, these are not general horses and the like. Core Keeper is full of interesting creatures large and small that really provide a personality to the title distinct from many in the genre. A large amount can also be kept as pets, whether they are hatched from eggs or found in the biomes.
The additional sub-biome, titled Moss, is found in the Forgotten Ruins and adds new visual expression. For those new to Core Keeper, it is a combination of procedural generation and set biomes as you break out further from the centre. Moss adds a lush, green area full of secrets that is another fun location to explore. Having a new traversal item called the hookshot is a game-changer as it allows for much better movement – especially over water. An early barrier to exploration in the game is the many water channels than cannot be crossed. With the hookshot, you can fly straight over large areas of water to save plenty of time.
The above appeared to be the most notable changes in my playthrough. I know the summoner class received an update with a removal of the cooldown, though I have spent minimal time with that type of combat despite how fun the gameplay sounds. There are new weapons (the sniper was a favourite) though again I seem to gravitate towards the general melee swords. For anyone that hasn’t played, all range combat operates on a directional dot that needs to be positioned with the stick. It is very handy is boss fights as the bosses are massive, though I have challenge at times using it in tight caverns. Still, the continual addition of options is what makes this project such a delight to engage with.
Core Keeper on the Switch 2 remains one of the best survival/crafting/combat games available if you enjoy 2D pixel-art and almost unlimited content. With a Metacritic score of 86 (PC), the quality is clear for all who engage beyond the opening hours. Many call Core Keeper a forever game, as there really is so much to explore either alone or with your friends. The 1.3 update provides old players with an excuse to dive back in, and new players with the best build yet.
*Please note, no review score is provided for content updates
