Drill Core

About

Drill Core is a single player strategy game. It was developed by Hungry Couch Games and was released on July 17, 2025. It received positive reviews from players.

Drill Core puts you in charge of an elite team managing a high-stakes drilling platform, where strategic leadership and resource management are crucial. Navigate dangerous missions, coordinate miners and guards, and make critical decisions to extract vital minerals while combating climate collapse. Every choice impacts the success and safety of your operation.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

85%

Audience ScoreBased on 772 reviews

gameplay51 positive mentions

grinding31 negative mentions

Engaging gameplay loop that combines mining and tower defense mechanics, keeping players hooked.
Charming art style and sound design that enhance the overall experience.
Regular updates from developers show commitment to improving the game and adding new content.

Balancing issues with turrets and units, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences.
Lack of meaningful meta progression and upgrades, making runs feel repetitive over time.
AI pathfinding issues cause workers to make poor decisions, resulting in unnecessary deaths.

gameplay
121 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
48%
10%
The gameplay is characterized by a highly engaging and addictive core loop that combines mining, resource gathering, and tower defense mechanics, offering a satisfying sense of progression and replayability. While many players appreciate the unique blend of genres and the depth of mechanics, some express concerns about repetitiveness and a lack of meaningful diversity in gameplay as they progress. Overall, the game is praised for its charm and solid mechanics, though it may require some balancing and additional content to enhance the experience further.
- “The gameplay loop is very engaging, with night and day providing a great balance between each other.”
- “Altogether, Drill Core provides a polished experience with a very engaging gameplay loop that is somewhat tough to start with, but becomes very satisfying once you learn to be a proper overseer, and get to grips with all the details and depth this game has to offer!”
- “The core gameplay loop is good, the balance however is non-existent.”
- “While new buildings and turrets are unlocked, they fail to meaningfully diversify the gameplay experience.”
- “The core mechanics remain unchanged throughout, making progression feel stagnant.”
- “New technologies only provide numerical improvements rather than fundamentally altering how the game is played, leaving the core gameplay loop monotonous.”
story
45 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
86%
7%
The game's story is minimal and largely non-existent, focusing instead on gameplay mechanics and humor, particularly through satirical "news" items that critique modern capitalism. Players engage in repetitive missions with a grind for upgrades, lacking a cohesive narrative or overarching goal, which may leave some feeling unfulfilled. However, the humorous elements and engaging gameplay loop provide a fun distraction, especially for fans of roguelike mechanics.
- “A chill little roguelike with lots of upgrades to unlock and a fun/humorous story.”
- “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.”
- “The missions get harder as you level up, and the boss was... well, interesting.”
- “That said, don't expect much in the way of story (although the 'news' items are often a hilarious read) - but if you like 80's arcade games where you just try and survive for as long as possible, then this might be for you.”
- “The out of match progression story-wise is completely non-existent; you're not working towards any goal, it's just run after run that leads to nothing.”
- “You'll also be required to farm the same missions over and over again, meaning that everything will be pretty much the same.”
grinding
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The reviews indicate that grinding is a prominent aspect of the game, often described as tedious and time-consuming, particularly in relation to unlocking upgrades and achievements. While some players find the grinding enjoyable and a source of replayability, others criticize it for being overly burdensome and detracting from the overall experience. The meta-progression system adds depth but leans heavily into resource grinding, which can lead to player fatigue.
- “And instead of progression, it has that meta-game progression that isn't interesting, just grindy.”
- “But again, grinding for buildings that have no real impact is pretty god damn boring.”
- “The game is also very hard and can get grindy; I am listing it as a con because you have to play the game a very specific way since you don't have other platforms, worker types, or a way to customize your playstyle.”
graphics
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
30%
10%
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their charming pixel art style, which enhances the overall aesthetic and gameplay experience. Reviewers highlight the detailed visuals, unique retro aesthetics, and engaging art design that contribute to the game's appeal. While some mention minor issues with visibility due to graphical effects, the overall consensus is that the graphics are visually pleasing and complement the fun mechanics of the game.
- “The game oozes aura and really nails the aesthetics.”
- “Visually, the game stands out with its detailed art style that complements the dark, underground environment.”
- “Excellent pixel graphics, fun combat and a ton of stuff to unlock.”
- “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
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
22%
17%
Overall, the game boasts high replayability due to its engaging mechanics, numerous upgrades, and varied gameplay experiences, although some players note that longer sessions can feel repetitive. While it offers a solid progression system and plenty of grinding opportunities, the replay value is particularly strong for those who enjoy the gameplay loop. Expanding the game world could further enhance its longevity and replayability.
- “So all in all there is a lot of replayability if you enjoy the gameplay; note that it is quite grindy. If you are aiming to unlock everything, expect to play for several dozen hours, but that's certainly not a bad thing if you enjoy the gameplay loop.”
- “With three different currencies and numerous upgrades to unlock, the long-term replayability is definitely there.”
- “While longer sessions can feel a bit repetitive, its taut mechanics and ever-shifting variables make it a gem in terms of replay value.”
- “The game also has a lot of replayability, where you will play a level over until you get better upgrades and harder levels.”
- “Expanding the world would significantly enhance its replayability and longevity.”
humor
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by its witty dialogue, amusing lore, and comical scenarios, such as losing workers in absurd ways. Players appreciate the funny in-game emails and the lighthearted tone reminiscent of 80's arcade games, though the story may not be a strong focus. Overall, the game is considered entertaining and humorous, making it a fun experience for those who enjoy a comedic touch in gameplay.
- “Sometimes you lose all your workers in really dumb, really funny ways.”
- “A chill little roguelike with lots of upgrades to unlock and a fun/humorous story.”
- “The in-game emails you receive are genuinely funny.”
music
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
14%
29%
The music in the game is generally well-received, with players appreciating its quality and how it complements the visuals and atmosphere. However, many reviewers note that the soundtrack is limited to a few tracks, suggesting that more variety would enhance the overall experience.
- “Great music, sound, and atmosphere ”
- “Good music, plenty of customization and progression.”
- “+ the music is as equally enjoyable as the visuals.”
- “But that psycho music in the menu is horrible.”
- “The audio design enhances the atmosphere, although the music tracks are limited and could benefit from more variety in the future.”
optimization
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
Overall, the optimization of the game is well-received, with many players reporting smooth performance, including on the Steam Deck. While some users have noted performance-related challenges, the majority find the game runs well and appreciate the opportunity to explore different strategies without significant technical issues.
- “Finding optimization and new strategies is really cool.”
- “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.”
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. The developers acknowledge the potential for overlooked bugs and express hope for a smooth experience.
- “Really cool game, though not too buggy aside from the ones that are there to shoot.”
- “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.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers express frustration with the monetization model, noting that essential quality-of-life upgrades are locked behind grinding rather than being available through microtransactions. This raises concerns about the game's design choices, especially in a market saturated with cash grabs and rushed titles, highlighting a preference for quality gameplay over exploitative monetization practices.
- “Without 'story mode' upgrades, features are just there to make the game less annoying. This raises the question of why basic quality-of-life features are locked behind grind if there are no microtransactions to disable annoyances.”
- “In a world filled with cash grab AAA titles, rushed early access experiences, and unnecessary focuses on diversity, this game is a prime example of what happens when you focus on quality gameplay experiences.”
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.