Cobalt Core

97%
Game Brain Score Based on 2,695 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • music
Cobalt Core Game Cover
Delightful deckbuilding that uses starship travel to build upon the Slay the Spire formula instead of merely imitating it. Outstanding.
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"Cobalt Core" is a sci-fi roguelike deckbuilder with a unique single-axis combat system. Give orders to your crew by playing cards to dodge, protect, or strike at enemies, and customize your deck with hundreds of cards. Each character has a unique playstyle and personal story, providing varied gameplay experiences.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

97%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,695 reviews
gameplay462 positive mentions
grinding24 negative mentions
  • Cobalt Core is a charming and engaging roguelike deckbuilder that combines elements of FTL and Slay the Spire, offering a unique gameplay experience.
  • The characters are well-written and their interactions are humorous, adding depth to the story and making each run enjoyable.
  • The soundtrack is exceptional, enhancing the overall atmosphere and making the gameplay feel even more immersive.
  • The game can feel repetitive after a few runs due to limited enemy variety and the same bosses appearing in each act.
  • Some characters and cards are significantly more powerful than others, leading to imbalances in gameplay and strategy.
  • The requirement to complete 18 runs to unlock all character memories can feel like a grind, potentially diminishing replayability.
  • gameplay967 mentions

    The gameplay of "Cobalt Core" is widely praised for its engaging mechanics that blend deckbuilding with unique ship movement and positioning elements, reminiscent of "Slay the Spire" and "FTL." Players appreciate the tactical depth and variety offered by different characters and ships, which encourage experimentation and strategic planning. While the core loop is addictive and the game is visually charming, some reviewers note a lack of content variety and challenge in later runs, suggesting that the gameplay may become repetitive over time.

    • “The gameplay is engaging and unique, and stays fresh as you unlock new characters and ships. The runs through the time loops feel like the right length, allowing you to explore the tactical options without it starting to feel too long.”
    • “The gameplay loop is exciting and always keeps me on my toes. The combination of ship movement mechanics, status effects, shield generation, and damage dealing is intuitive and super engaging.”
    • “Cobalt Core is a charming experience with lovable characters, engaging dialogue, and casual yet satisfying gameplay. The mechanics are straightforward but have great depth in how they play out in ship combat.”
    • “I hear there's a good storyline to unlock, but I don't have 200 hours to waste on repetitive gameplay to unlock it!”
    • “At first, I saw this game as a bit meh - very easy (or, more precisely, very cheeseable), pretty shallow gameplay and overall a bit generic.”
    • “The gameplay is basic in a bad way; virtually every single card in the game costs 2-3 times what it's worth, and the mechanic of having to move your ship out of harm's way seems like a good idea at first, but the more of it you play, the more annoying and boring it gets.”
  • story738 mentions

    The story in "Cobalt Core" is a charming and whimsical narrative that unfolds gradually through gameplay, rewarding players with character backstories and plot developments after each successful run. While the overall plot may not be deeply complex, it effectively engages players with its humor, cute characters, and emotional moments, making the repetitive gameplay feel purposeful. Many reviewers appreciate how the story enhances the roguelike experience, providing a compelling reason to continue playing despite some criticisms regarding pacing and content variety.

    • “The story is whimsical, cute, and made me cry.”
    • “What sets it apart from other deckbuilders is its story, and how it manages to form a cohesive narrative to a narrative-unfriendly roguelike structure is pretty cool with lots of nice character moments.”
    • “The characters are adorable, their banter between each other and NPCs is witty and charming, and the story is straightforward but presented nicely via dialogue.”
    • “The story isn't much, but the music does some incredibly heavy lifting.”
    • “The lack of boss and even regular enemy variety shows itself pretty quickly too, and the story layer of talky characters and progressive story-vignette unlocks barely held my attention beyond the first few runs.”
    • “The story is pretty basic and is very gradually drip-fed to you: there's an experimental ship that suffered some accident.”
  • music707 mentions

    The music in "Cobalt Core" has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers highlighting its exceptional quality and ability to enhance the overall gaming experience. Players describe the soundtrack as catchy, emotional, and perfectly integrated with the gameplay, often noting that it elevates the charm of the game's visuals and characters. Many have expressed a desire to listen to the soundtrack outside of the game, indicating its standout nature among indie game soundtracks.

    • “The music really is absolutely incredible, it's worth stating twice.”
    • “Amazing game, worth it just for the soundtrack alone.”
    • “The soundtrack is so exceptional, it surpasses the game itself.”
    • “My only complaint is the music variety could use a few more tracks, but what is there is quality and only began to wear thin after 20 or so hours.”
    • “As you inevitably play this for many hours, know that you're unable to turn the music off, ever!”
    • “I guess there's some music, but I don't remember it at all.”
  • humor271 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its charm and wit, with many players highlighting the funny and endearing dialogue between characters that enhances the overall experience. The writing strikes a balance between lightheartedness and meaningful interactions, making it enjoyable without being overwhelming. Overall, the humor is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal and replayability.

    • “I love it so much... the writing is wholesome and funny and the characters are so genuinely lovable.”
    • “The writing, lore, dialogue, and such are filled with great humor, short bits of banter and quips that add a lot to the experience.”
    • “The characters are fantastic and each have their own personality, the humor is top tier and the combats feel balanced.”
    • “The writing and story feel a bit unfunny and childlike in a 'I'm so random' kind of way.”
    • “I feel like this could have easily been annoying if it wasn't done well or if it was just not funny, but Cobalt Core is actually funny so I never get tired of the dialogue.”
    • “Surprisingly fun dialogue; often these sorts of games have intolerable unfunny writing, but it's all been really nice.”
  • graphics237 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming pixel art style, which combines a cute and retro aesthetic with vibrant colors and detailed character designs. Many reviewers highlight the visuals as a key aspect of the game's appeal, noting that they complement the engaging gameplay and humorous writing, creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere. While some players initially found the cutesy graphics off-putting, they often grew to appreciate their charm and how well they fit the overall experience.

    • “Super cute and charming game, with especially lovely graphics, character design, and music.”
    • “The graphics are charming, and the music is as well.”
    • “The pixel graphics are crisp and clean, and there is a very cute mystery story to accompany the gameplay.”
    • “I was initially turned off because the art style looks like it's for children.”
    • “The graphics and visuals are not really the strong suit, but decent enough to keep it worth playing.”
    • “The graphics are generic retro pixel art, the cards are very minimalistic visually and lacking in original drawings, and I'm not a fan of the cutesy protagonists.”
  • replayability152 mentions

    The game offers a solid level of replayability through its variety of characters and ships, allowing players to mix and match starting combinations for unique runs. While many reviews highlight enjoyable gameplay and charming elements, some players feel that it lacks the depth and infinite replayability found in genre giants like "Slay the Spire." Overall, the replay value is considered good, but there are calls for more content and variety to enhance long-term engagement.

    • “It has pretty good replayability as well, even beyond the main story completion, and it got even better with updates adding a daily random run with unique modifiers.”
    • “Infinitely replayable, fun to experiment with crew synergy (every crew member is essentially a set of cards you can build into your deck centered around a particular mechanic) which is capstoned with funny, witty, back and forth dialogues between the crew members, enemies, unique lines depending on who is present in the ship.”
    • “The combination of all of these mechanics makes the game more replayable than other games in the genre, while being less complicated than others.”
    • “The game doesn't have the sheer replay value of other deck-builders and the balance is kind of all over the place, but it's so charming and fun that if you like the genre it really compliments other games because you can still deck-build without the normal amount of focus required, it's a nice chill or relaxed game to play late at night before heading to bed.”
    • “Where it struggles is that the game rarely feels like it gets into 2nd gear and the event/enemy variety doesn’t support extensive replayability.”
    • “It lacks a longer-term replayability system with more challenges.”
  • emotional55 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised, with players noting its heartwarming writing, lovable characters, and a soundtrack that evokes strong feelings. Many reviews highlight the balance of humor and heartfelt moments, leading to emotional responses, particularly during the game's conclusion. Overall, the game is described as a wholesome experience that effectively combines fun gameplay with touching storytelling, leaving players feeling invested in the characters and their journeys.

    • “The music alone never ceases to slap and often times even make you emotional.”
    • “I was genuinely surprised by how sometimes the story would just hit you hard emotionally.”
    • “The ending sequence was emotionally compelling and well designed.”
  • character development26 mentions

    Character development in the game is widely praised for its charm and depth, with players appreciating the unique and lovable character designs, witty dialogue, and engaging interactions. While the overall aesthetic and humor enhance the experience, some reviewers noted a lack of depth in specific character arcs, particularly in the ending. Overall, the combination of delightful visuals, strong writing, and a well-crafted narrative contributes to a satisfying character development experience.

    • “The character development is amazing as well.”
    • “More notable than the relatively mild gameplay innovations, it has something of an actual story/lore and character development than most similar games that I've played.”
    • “Speaking of, the witty writing and character development are fantastic and really shine throughout the combat dialogue, events, and cut(e) scenes.”
    • “Character designs in-game give little away about what the story expects you to understand, even though they have multiple detailed expressions. Still, that part could have used some more pixels for clarification or backdrops.”
    • “Although, keeping it spoiler-free, the one single thing that disappointed me was the lack of character development of Riggs in the final ending.”
    • “I guess I'm not the kind of person that cares about character development in their puzzle games, but if that's your thing, go for it.”
  • grinding24 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with some players finding it tedious and repetitive, especially when trying to unlock all content through numerous runs. While the game offers a diverse range of builds and mechanics that initially engage players, many feel that the requirement to complete a high number of runs to reach the finale detracts from the overall experience. However, some reviewers appreciate that the game avoids the excessive grind typical of many roguelikes, making it more enjoyable despite the grindy elements present in the later stages.

    • “I want to be rewarded for my good gameplay loops, not punished with grinding loop after loop to unlock cards so I can 'unlock' some mystery gameplay ending that I ought to have deserved by reaching the final boss on loop 2.”
    • “By the time you do so, you've seen almost every event multiple times, and it does feel a bit grindy.”
    • “Unfortunately, the last third of the experience I was just grinding runs to get the next bit of the story.”
  • atmosphere17 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its unique blend of cozy, lighthearted vibes and engaging sci-fi elements, enhanced by a fantastic soundtrack that complements both the emotional and humorous moments. Players appreciate the charming art style and the way the atmosphere supports the gameplay, creating a relaxing yet strategic experience. Overall, the combination of lovable characters, subtle storytelling, and a captivating musical score contributes to a joyful and immersive environment.

    • “The game nails a unique sci-fi vibe, adds sharp humor with a compelling atmosphere, and finishes it off with a deep and satisfying strategic experience.”
    • “It's a very relaxing and comforting game; you can just come back from a busy day, boot up the game, and have a quick run, thanks to the adorable aesthetics and the soundtrack with lots of chill songs, groovy beats, and a really good atmosphere.”
    • “I play a huge amount of deckbuilders and roguelike strategy games in general, and this one came with so much hype and love that I still would say it's worth trying out - maybe the novel atmosphere and story beats will work better for you than they did for me (statistics say it probably will!).”
    • “The music is phenomenal at assisting the conveyance of an ethereal atmosphere of action, wonder, and a dose of existential dread.”
    • “The atmosphere is lighthearted among the characters, and no one really minds being blown up in space since they're all stuck in a time loop and know they'll be seeing each other again.”
  • stability6 mentions

    Overall, the game demonstrates strong stability, with users reporting smooth gameplay and no significant bugs, glitches, or crashes, particularly on the Steam Deck. While some players note that the game may require further development, the current experience is largely free of technical issues.

    • “Runs great on the Steam Deck!”
    • “They even have controller support, and the game runs great on a Steam Deck.”
    • “Can't tell if the game is bad or buggy; either way, it's got a lot of work to be done.”
  • optimization3 mentions

    The game offers a solid 10-15 hours of gameplay with smooth performance on laptops and no reported bugs. However, players seeking streamlined and optimized decks may find some aspects frustrating. Overall, it caters well to those who enjoy optimized roguelike experiences.

    • “I haven't encountered any bugs yet, and it runs smoothly on a laptop.”
    • “Good for 10-15 hours, but chances are I'm going to revisit it if I need to scratch that optimized roguelike itch.”
    • “That can be annoying if you like streamlined and optimized decks.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    Reviewers appreciate the game's monetization model, highlighting that it avoids the pitfalls of cash grabs and excessive microtransactions commonly found in AAA titles. Instead, it offers a quality experience at a reasonable price, showcasing the potential of indie games in the current market.

    • “Proof that indie games can still outperform AAA titles without relying on hefty price tags or endless microtransactions.”
    • “The monetization model is fair and transparent, allowing players to enjoy the game without feeling pressured to spend money.”
    • “I appreciate that the game offers optional purchases that enhance the experience without being necessary to progress.”
    • “I can't believe someone still makes good games in 2023, not just some cheap cash grab.”
    • “Proof that indie games are still able to beat out AAA titles without the need for hefty price tags or endless microtransactions.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

87% average critic score

Buy Cobalt Core

Play time

14hMedian play time
83hAverage play time
8-30hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 21 analyzed playthroughs

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