To The Core

About

To The Core is a single player action game. It was developed by SomethingExtra and was released on August 10, 2023. It received very positive reviews from players.

"To The Core" is an incremental drilling game set in a solar system with various planets. Gather resources from planets to buy upgrades and drill deeper, while managing fuel and mastering resources through repetitive mining. Each planet presents a new challenge, requiring upgrades to drill further. The game is still in early development and subject to change.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,562 reviews

gameplay119 positive mentions

grinding294 negative mentions

The game offers a fun and satisfying gameplay loop, with a strong sense of progression as players upgrade their abilities and destroy planets.
The graphics and soundtrack are enjoyable, contributing to a relaxing and engaging experience.
The game is addictive, with many players reporting they lost track of time while playing.

The game is relatively short, with many players completing it in under 10 hours, leading to concerns about replayability and content longevity.
There are significant performance issues in the late game, particularly with lag and crashes when too many effects are on screen.
The grind for the final achievement of breaking 10 million blocks is seen as excessive and tedious, detracting from the overall enjoyment.

gameplay
329 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
60%
4%
The gameplay of the game is characterized by a simple yet addictive loop centered around mining planets for resources, upgrading equipment, and progressing through various mechanics. While many players appreciate the satisfying progression and engaging visuals, some criticize the repetitive nature of the gameplay and the lack of depth in certain mechanics, particularly in the late game. Overall, the game offers around 6-12 hours of enjoyable gameplay, though it could benefit from improved UI and clearer explanations of its mechanics.
- “Upgrades transform gameplay and the music is phenomenal.”
- “The core gameplay revolves around drilling into planets to extract resources, which are then used to upgrade your equipment and delve deeper into the planetary bodies.”
- “The gameplay loop is simple, but doesn't suffer for it; I don't think.”
- “The entire farming mechanic is useless.”
- “The farming mechanic added (for me) late in the game felt pointless.”
- “Gameplay-wise, yeah there's a bunch of upgrades, but they don't feel particularly balanced.”
grinding
303 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
2%
97%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback from players, with many noting that while the initial gameplay is enjoyable, it becomes excessively grindy, particularly towards the end. The final achievement of breaking 10 million blocks is frequently cited as overly tedious, often requiring automation or extensive time investment to complete. Additionally, the farming mechanic is generally viewed as underwhelming and poorly integrated, contributing to the repetitive nature of the grind without providing meaningful rewards.
- “The end game became kind of repetitive, to max all the upgrades/buffs, but otherwise it wasn't too grindy.”
- “It's not grindy at all; I would say that it is perfectly balanced.”
- “Great game, the incremental bits are not too tedious and breaking through planets is satisfying!”
- “The final achievement to harvest 10 million blocks is pretty tedious for essentially no reward, which is also unfortunate.”
- “The last achievement requires me to break 4 times as many blocks and a ton of grinding.”
- “Progress is really slow, grindy, and repetitive.”
music
197 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
41%
2%
The music in the game has received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with many users praising its quality and catchiness, often describing it as "banger" or "absolute fire." Players appreciate how the soundtrack enhances the gameplay experience, with some even expressing a desire for a purchasable soundtrack. However, a few users noted issues with music volume resetting and a desire for more variety in tracks, but overall, the music is considered a standout feature that significantly contributes to the game's enjoyment.
- “The music is phenomenal, and the upgrades transform gameplay in a way that keeps you engaged.”
- “The soundtrack is absolutely amazing, and I could listen to it for hours without getting bored.”
- “This game is incredibly fun and relaxing, with a great sense of progression and an outstanding soundtrack.”
- “Playing for more than 10 minutes at a time is enough to nearly make me puke, and I wish the game had more music, or the tracks were 3 minutes longer and didn't restart the moment you change screens, but the game remembered the position in each track and simply resumed when navigating back to different levels or menus.”
- “Music is very repetitive; it would be nice to have 2 or 3 more variations, but I really enjoyed this game and it was well worth the £6.69 that I paid.”
- “Super annoying how when I close the game with the music and SFX muted, the game opens with the music on in the same position every time (tested it a few times).”
graphics
82 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
62%
5%
The graphics of the game are a mix of simplistic pixel art and more complex visual effects, which can be both charming and overwhelming. While many players appreciate the retro aesthetic and find the visuals engaging, some experience performance issues and motion sickness due to the busy screens and lack of graphical options. Overall, the graphics are seen as a fun complement to the gameplay, though they may not appeal to everyone, especially those with older hardware.
- “The visuals are clean, the sounds are chill, and everything just works.”
- “Great music, amusing pixel art style, increasingly wild visuals for planets as you progress, just a fun little incremental romp.”
- “The graphics are simple but the power scaling and intensity of the destruction keep you engaged.”
- “The pixel graphics are extremely basic and ugly, yet towards the mid-to-end game (where there's a ton of particles on screen) it still slowed my computer to a crawl.”
- “Bad graphics: the icons are indecipherable, and I often lost sight of my own ship, though there were some cool effects later.”
- “All this made worse by the lack of graphical settings and excessive abuse of chromatic aberration that makes certain planets entirely unplayable as the screen is completely unseeable.”
optimization
59 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
66%
15%
The game suffers from significant optimization issues, particularly in the late game where performance can drop dramatically, leading to lag and high CPU usage. Players have reported that the game runs smoothly initially but becomes unplayable during intense moments, especially when many entities are on screen. Overall, while the gameplay is enjoyable, the need for optimization and quality improvements is a common concern among users.
- “Some players have reported performance issues, particularly during late-game stages when the complexity increases.”
- “A great game in need of a bit of optimization!”
- “Fun, incremental, mining game with great gameplay, but requires heavy improvements on the quality of life and optimization side.”
- “Needs optimization as well on some planets; performance tanks if you spend too long on the planet that has asteroids - likely these entities never get cleaned up after being created.”
- “Extremely high CPU usage; this is definitely poorly optimized.”
- “Fun game with great progression, but so badly optimized at end challenges that it's unplayable.”
replayability
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
46%
24%
Overall, the game's replayability is largely criticized, with many players noting a lack of meaningful content after completing the main objectives, which typically takes only a few hours. While some users find enjoyment in speedrunning or collecting, the consensus is that the game does not offer significant replay value, and many feel it could benefit from additional content or features like a "new game plus" mode.
- “This system encourages players to specialize in certain resources, adding depth and replayability to the game.”
- “Good replayability for speedrunning.”
- “Loved it and I found great replayability in trying to speed run the game.”
- “Now a thing that you shouldn't expect from this game is replayability.”
- “There is no replayability after beating the game or getting all achievements, which only takes a few hours.”
- “Doesn't offer any replayability and there is no more content after you beat the game, which takes about 5-6 hours if you chill.”
story
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
59%
31%
The game's story is virtually non-existent, with players noting a lack of plot and character development. While the gameplay is enjoyable and engaging, it primarily focuses on mechanics rather than narrative, making it suitable for those looking for a casual experience without a significant storyline. Overall, the game is appreciated for its fun gameplay loop and relaxing vibe, but it does not offer a compelling story.
- “My favorite thing about it is probably that it combines the aspect of a destroy-it-all type game with a clicker-like aspect and wraps it all up in a storyline with a real end goal.”
- “All in all definitely recommended when you want to relax and take a break from being preoccupied by a story or competitive gameplay.”
- “A chill game to just play with your brain off; don't expect some great story or ultra mechanics since it's not all of that, it's just something you vibe to, and frankly, for what it is I enjoy it for that.”
- “No story to it really - like the game says, you have one mission.”
- “Not much of a plot to explore or character development, just a great gameplay loop, game feel, insanely catchy music and numbers that go up.”
- “There is no story whatsoever.”
stability
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is frequently criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs, particularly in the user interface and during endgame stages. While the core gameplay is enjoyable, many players experience lag, freezing, and various glitches that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game feels unfinished, resembling an "alpha release" rather than a polished product.
- “While it may not be 'buggy' and crash, the quality is definitely of 'alpha release' quality.”
- “The game glitches and doesn't let me click on what I'm trying to click on in the menu until I move my screen a little, and the same thing happens when in the planet select screen.”
- “Some words of warning, however, this game has brought my PC to its knees and I can no longer mine several of the planets because the lag gets so bad that the game freezes.”
humor
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised, with many players highlighting its funny credits, quirky gameplay, and amusing sound effects. Reviewers describe the game as "dangerously funny" and addictive, with a unique blend of cosmic and absurd humor that enhances the overall experience. Despite some technical issues, the comedic elements contribute significantly to its charm and enjoyment.
- “The humor in the credits implied that the makers are pretty young.”
- “Highly recommend for a chill/cozy experience with a galactic twist and the cosmic humor of exponential expansion.”
- “The difference in power between the start and the end is just absolutely hilarious.”
monetization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game is entirely free to play with no microtransactions, allowing players to access all content without the need for in-game purchases or ads. It offers a continuous progression experience reminiscent of classic flash games, emphasizing a pay-once model that appeals to those nostalgic for simpler gaming experiences. However, some challenges may be difficult to achieve, and advertising bonuses can vary.
- “It's entirely free to play, by the way; no microtransactions - everything you want can be obtained!”
- “It's like one of those incremental upgrade games you might see on a mobile app, but there is never a halt to progression (and obviously no microtransactions).”
- “Pay once, play forever, no annoying microtransactions, and a real 'hail mary' to the golden days of flash games.”
- “Some challenges are not achievable, and some advertising bonuses differ from what you will actually receive.”
- “The game feels like a free-to-play game without the ads and in-game store.”
- “It's like one of those incremental upgrade games you might see on a mobile app, but there is never a halt to progression.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised, with users highlighting its relaxing qualities, engaging music, and immersive endgame experience, making it an enjoyable choice for players seeking a calming yet action-oriented environment.
- “This game is incredibly atmospheric.”
- “Atmospheric endgame, great game to relax.”
- “Fun, relaxing, action-packed game with great music and atmosphere, and good progression.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a strong emotional response to the game's mechanics, particularly the concept of "dying to the core," which evokes feelings of frustration and intensity. This mechanic adds a layer of emotional depth, as players grapple with the consequences of their actions and the challenge of overcoming obstacles. Overall, the emotional impact is significant, enhancing the overall gaming experience.
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game lacks significant character development and a compelling plot, focusing instead on an engaging gameplay loop, enjoyable mechanics, and catchy music.
- “Not much of a plot to explore or character development, just a great gameplay loop, game feel, insanely catchy music, and numbers that go up.”