Drill Core

About

Join Our Elite Platform Manager Team at DrillCore! Are you ready to lead a team of exceptional talent in one of the most challenging environments known to humankind? At DrillCore, we're not just mining minerals; we're safeguarding the future. We're looking for strategic minds and resourceful leaders to manage our cutting-edge operations. Do you have what it takes to make every decision count in th…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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87%

Audience ScoreBased on 577 reviews

gameplay41 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

The game offers a unique blend of tower defense and mining mechanics, providing an engaging gameplay loop that keeps players coming back for more.
The art style and sound design are well-executed, creating an enjoyable atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.
The meta progression system allows for meaningful upgrades and customization, giving players a sense of growth and achievement throughout their runs.

The AI for workers can be frustrating, as they often make poor decisions that lead to unnecessary deaths, impacting the player's ability to progress.
The game can feel repetitive after a while, with limited content and a lack of variety in missions and challenges.
There is currently no option to save mid-run, which can be inconvenient for players who may not have long stretches of time to dedicate to a single session.

gameplay
89 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
45%
9%
The gameplay is characterized by a solid and addictive loop that combines mining, resource gathering, and tower defense mechanics, keeping players engaged with its unique blend of exploration and strategy. While many appreciate the depth and progression systems, some criticize the repetitiveness and lack of freedom in mechanics, leading to mixed feelings about long-term engagement. Overall, the game offers a polished experience with potential for improvement, appealing to fans of strategy and roguelike genres.
- “A well-crafted game with a good gameplay loop.”
- “The gameplay loop is very engaging, with night and day providing a great balance between each other.”
- “Overall, this game is a must-try for fans of strategy, tower defense, and roguelite mechanics.”
- “Gameplay has quite a few problems, such as:”
- “The late game is also not clear at all, so I'm not entirely sure what I'm aiming at anymore... I really lost the desire to play it after 10 hours of gameplay.”
- “Too grindy, even though you'll have experienced all of the gameplay (frustrating AI management and watching turrets shoot bugs) within the first hour.”
story
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
85%
9%
The game's story is described as fun and humorous, set within a roguelike framework where players manage drilling missions to gather resources and upgrade equipment. While the gameplay loop is engaging, some players find the repetitive nature of missions and the lack of a save option during lengthy sessions frustrating. Overall, the narrative complements the gameplay, but the grind for upgrades and mission structure can detract from the experience.
- “A chill little roguelike with lots of upgrades to unlock and a fun/humorous story.”
- “The missions get harder as you level up, and the boss was... well, interesting.”
- “You'll also be required to farm the same missions over and over again, meaning that everything will be pretty much the same.”
- “Each mission I was staring at a blank canvas with the same goal, but new ways (and challenges) to achieve it, and I loved every minute.”
- “In order to progress you must rush through ~30-40 minute missions on harder difficulties.”
grinding
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The grinding aspect in the game is a mixed bag; while some players find the mining and upgrade processes enjoyable, many express frustration over the excessive micromanagement and tediousness involved. The game features a heavy reliance on luck and can feel grindy, especially with achievements and progression systems that require significant time investment. Overall, while the grind can detract from the experience, it may still appeal to fans of the genre who appreciate the depth it adds to gameplay.
- “Grinding, skills, weapons mechanics are too bad.”
- “It is really very grindy and you have to micromanage the miners etc a lot.”
- “Too grindy, even though you'll have experienced all of the gameplay (frustrating AI management and watching turrets shoot bugs) within the first hour.”
graphics
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
27%
14%
The game's graphics have received widespread praise for their charming pixel art style, which enhances the overall aesthetic and gameplay experience. Many players appreciate the detailed visuals and engaging art design, noting that they contribute significantly to the game's appeal. However, some critiques mention issues with graphical effects that can obscure gameplay, indicating a need for balance between style and functionality.
- “The art style is gorgeous and lovely to look at.”
- “Excellent pixel graphics, fun combat and a ton of stuff to unlock.”
- “Visually, the game stands out with its detailed art style that complements the dark, underground environment.”
- “Some games have great mechanics but a lousy feel: the sounds are off, the graphics are basic, the interactions seem clunky.”
- “I won't refund as I really do want to play this game at some point, but if someone is looking at this and thinking because of its pixel graphics it could be a potato-friendly game for them, no it is not.”
- “Obscuring the player's view with graphical effects (frozen maps) is the worst gameplay element any developer can do in a video game.”
replayability
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
8%
25%
Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, with many players enjoying the grind for upgrades and the challenge of replaying levels. While some balance and pathing issues exist, they are often overshadowed by the engaging gameplay and solid progression system. Expanding the game world could further enhance its longevity and replay value.
- “Very fun game, it has a ton of replayability and a ton of things that you can grind!”
- “Expanding the world would significantly enhance its replayability and longevity.”
- “With three different currencies and numerous upgrades to unlock, the long-term replayability is definitely there.”
- “The game also has a lot of replayability, where you will play a level over until you get better upgrades and harder levels.”
humor
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features a humorous narrative and entertaining lore, with players appreciating the comedic elements in the story and in-game emails. While the humor is generally well-received, some players noted inconsistencies in gameplay mechanics that detracted from the overall experience. Overall, the humor adds a lighthearted touch to the roguelike experience, making it enjoyable for players.
- “A chill little roguelike with lots of upgrades to unlock and a fun/humorous story.”
- “Quite funny lore as well.”
- “The in-game emails you receive are genuinely funny.”
optimization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
Overall, the optimization of the game appears to be solid, with many users reporting smooth performance, including on the Steam Deck. While some reviews mention performance issues, the majority of players have not experienced any significant problems, suggesting that the game runs well across various platforms. The design encourages players to explore different strategies, enhancing the overall experience.
- “Steam Deck performance is smooth, making this a great title to pick up for on-the-go sessions.”
- “I've never had performance issues, so I don't see why this couldn't be done.”
- “Some of these challenges just require a certain performance level, but others place special restrictions that lure the player out of their comfort zone and teach them the value of other options that they may not have previously considered.”
- “I've noticed a few reviews complaining about performance; I can't say I've had any problems.”
music
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
80%
60%
The music in the game is generally praised for its quality and ability to enhance the atmosphere, with players enjoying the enjoyable soundscapes and customization options. However, many reviewers note that the limited number of music tracks detracts from the overall experience, suggesting a need for more variety in future updates.
- “Great music, sound, and atmosphere 👌”
- “Good music, plenty of customization and progression.”
- “The audio design enhances the atmosphere, although the music tracks are limited and could benefit from more variety in the future.”
- “The soundtrack feels repetitive and lacks the depth needed to keep players engaged.”
- “While the sound effects are well done, the music itself is forgettable and doesn't add much to the overall experience.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while some players find it enjoyable with minimal bugs, others report significant issues that can disrupt gameplay, such as losing entire squads due to glitches. Internal testers express hope that any overlooked bugs remain undiscovered.
- “Really cool game, though not too buggy aside from the ones that are intended for shooting.”
- “Very buggy. I wanted this game to be fun, but when you lose your entire squad of workers just because of a bug, it's really annoying.”
- “As one of the internal QA testers of the game, I hope nobody finds any glitches we overlooked.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The atmosphere is praised for its great music and sound design, which significantly enhance the overall experience. However, some users note that the limited variety of music tracks could be improved in future updates.
- “Great music, sound, and atmosphere 👌”
- “The audio design enhances the atmosphere, although the music tracks are limited and could benefit from more variety in the future.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the emotional aspect of the game to be negatively impacted by its heavy reliance on luck, which can lead to feelings of frustration and tedium rather than engagement or connection.
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers highlight that the monetization strategy of the game prioritizes quality gameplay over exploitative practices commonly seen in the industry, such as cash grabs and rushed content. This approach is seen as a refreshing contrast to many AAA titles, suggesting a commitment to delivering a satisfying player experience without excessive monetization tactics.
- “In a world filled with cash grab AAA titles, rushed early access experiences, and unnecessary focuses on diversity, DC is a prime example of what happens when you focus on quality gameplay experiences.”