"Core Keeper" is a mining sandbox adventure game supporting 1 to 8 players online. Players will play as an explorer who awakens in ancient caves, digging resources, building bases, defeating giant monsters, planting crops, and raising animals in a procedurally generated underground world, gradually uncovering the secrets of the "Core."
Since the official release of version 1.0 on August 27, 2024, "Core Keeper" has launched two major free updates: "Backpacks & Bombs" and "Void & Volts." Currently, the global player count has exceeded 6 million, with a Steam positive review rate maintained at around 92%.
Now, just after its second anniversary, "Core Keeper" is about to welcome its third major content update—"Underground Riders." On September 21st, all players who have purchased "Core Keeper" can experience this large-scale update for free.
This update mainly focuses on the mount system, which has been highly requested by the player community. As a sandbox game combining the exploration and combat elements of "Terraria" with the farming and management elements of "Stardew Valley," "Core Keeper" places the starting point of adventure underground, bringing a refreshing difference. In previous versions, players' exploration methods mainly revolved around underground elements such as digging and minecarts.
In the new version, to further accelerate the pace of underground exploration and reduce player grind, "Core Keeper" officially introduces its exclusive underground mount system. By crafting saddles with a small amount of resources at the Livestock Workbench, players can quickly obtain mounts in the early stages, significantly saving time spent traveling back and forth during exploration.
The rich livestock system in the game can come in handy now, as almost all livestock can serve as temporary mounts for players. Of course, newborn small-sized livestock cannot be used yet!
These mounts accompanying players can greatly alleviate the loneliness of the exploration journey, serving as another emotional anchor besides pets. Of course, players also need to take good care of their mounts; otherwise, they will end up like the poor duck below, becoming a speed bump for the BOSS.
However, the development team has thoughtfully optimized the AI for mounts. Not only can they be stored in your inventory when not in use, but various behavior options are also provided for convenience. Mounts can stay in place, follow closely, or be allowed to roam freely within a certain range.
In short, mounts will not become a burden to players; they are more like "taxis" waiting at various teleport points.
Besides mounts, a new item has appeared for exploration: the incredibly cool grappling hook gun.
In previous versions of "Core Keeper," apart from digging, the most common way to explore was to build roads over mountains and bridges across water. Although effective, it somewhat impacted gameplay efficiency.
The appearance of the grappling hook gun is more suitable for solo players, offering quicker usage and stylish actions. In the late game, when many teleportation methods are unlocked and running back and forth is no longer necessary, the grappling hook gun is definitely a superior choice—after all, swinging around like Spider-Man is really cool.
In terms of combat, this update has also re-adjusted and optimized the combat styles of Mages and Summoners. The Mage's talents now lean more towards damage increase, somewhat weakening survivability. For Summoners, operations have been further simplified by removing summoning times for minions, changing them to fixed mana costs. This synergy allows the two spellcasting classes to combine better.
For players who prefer simulation management, this update also offers a little surprise. To add vitality to the monotonous underground environment, the game introduces a brand-new secondary biome—the Moss Area. It appears "strangely" in the "Forgotten Ruins" zone, suddenly bringing a touch of greenery to the center of stony land.
The landscaping with moss and shrubs is aesthetically pleasing, making it suitable for players focused on farming to develop their base. No monsters spawn here either; the only creature, the Mineral King Dragon, resembles Agumon from "Digimon" and is very tame.
In addition to the updates mentioned above, the new version will also offer three new pets, 10 types of armor, 15 types of rings, 15 types of necklaces, new pockets, new enemies, and new weapons. Besides content updates, there are also numerous experience optimizations, such as customizable crosshair indicators and brush area adjustments, waiting for players to discover these surprises during gameplay.
"Underground Riders" will be updated for free on major platforms including PC on September 21st as expansion content. As an award-winning multiplayer adventure game, grab your weapons, pickaxes, and saddles with your friends and embark on this underground adventure that belongs exclusively to you!