To The Core

93%
Game Brain Score Based on 3,025 reviews
  • gameplay
  • grinding
  • music
To The Core Game Cover
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"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.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

93%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,025 reviews
gameplay101 positive mentions
grinding244 negative mentions
  • Engaging game loop with satisfying progression and upgrades.
  • Addictive gameplay that keeps players hooked for hours.
  • Great soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
  • Game crashes frequently, especially during late-game when many effects are active.
  • The grind for the 'break 10 million blocks' achievement is excessive and tedious.
  • UI can be clunky and unresponsive, making navigation frustrating at times.
  • gameplay283 mentions

    The gameplay of the game is characterized by a satisfying core loop that involves mining, upgrading, and resource management, which many players find addictive and engaging. However, some reviews highlight issues with pacing, repetitiveness, and a lack of clarity in mechanics, particularly in the late game where progression can feel slow and grindy. Overall, while the game offers a fun experience with a variety of mechanics and upgrades, it could benefit from improved user interface and clearer explanations of its systems.

    • “Great gameplay, progression loop, and creative upgrades.”
    • “The core gameplay loop is addicting and fun, and the price is perfectly okay for the amount of playtime.”
    • “Fun and addictive gameplay; I also like the pixel art style which gives the game a more arcade feel.”
    • “Progression can get very slow at times and the main 'drilling' mechanic (bashing your guy against the resources) seems to become useless very quickly and you have to rely solely on missiles, grenades, etc.”
    • “It has too many upgrades that do very little and the game got repetitive with the gameplay loop being go to a planet, stay afk for 30 sec, get resources, upgrade, repeat.”
    • “The final few hours of gameplay (about once you get to the diamond planet) was really boring - you just became so ridiculously powerful that gameplay became 'click a button once it comes up', which isn't my idea of a fun time.”
  • grinding253 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with many players noting that while the early and mid-game progression is engaging, the end-game becomes excessively grindy and tedious, particularly when pursuing achievements like breaking 10 million blocks. Some players enjoy the grind as part of the incremental gameplay experience, finding it addictive, while others criticize the farming mechanics as underdeveloped and the overall pacing as unbalanced. Overall, the game is seen as fun but can become monotonous, especially for completionists aiming for 100%.

    • “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!”
    • “Grinding the rest of those blocks took a good 2 hours of solid work (not difficult, just tedious).”
    • “The final achievement is far too grindy and should either provide some way to more easily grind for the achievement or add some quality of life aspects to make it less painful.”
    • “The last achievement requires me to break 4 times as many blocks and a ton of grinding.”
  • music168 mentions

    The music in the game has received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with many users praising its quality and ability to enhance the overall experience. Descriptions such as "banger soundtrack," "amazing music," and "fantastic soundtrack" highlight its appeal, while some players express a desire for more variety and the option to purchase the soundtrack. However, a few users noted issues with the music settings resetting upon restarting the game, which detracted from their enjoyment.

    • “The music is fantastic, especially the sun's background music!”
    • “Incredible soundtrack with addicting gameplay!”
    • “This is a chill incremental game with amazing music that varies per planet that you go to; the first hour is a bit slow but then picks up incredibly fast.”
    • “Running the game for the first time, it immediately asks the user to set sound and music volumes, which is weird because there are no sounds or music playing to test them.”
    • “Super annoying how when I close the game with the music and sound effects muted, it opens with the music on at the same volume every time.”
    • “Music volume is always reset to low each time I booted the game up, and I would have to repeatedly mute it. For the record, I think the music is decent, but I preferred outside music or podcasts.”
  • graphics72 mentions

    The graphics of the game are a mixed bag, with many players appreciating the simple yet aesthetically pleasing pixel art style and engaging visual effects. However, some users report issues with clarity, particularly in crowded scenes, leading to confusion about their own ship's position, and performance drops on lower-end systems. Overall, while the visuals contribute to the game's charm, there are calls for better optimization and more graphical settings to enhance the experience.

    • “The game looks really clean and aesthetically pleasing, all of the particles and pieces just look sick.”
    • “Cute pixel graphics, very appealing ASMR sound effects, and a cool soundtrack all add to the charm.”
    • “The visuals and sounds are very good, and the game feels very responsive.”
    • “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.”
    • “I feel like I shouldn't be playing this game - the interface is pretty bad, the feedback is confusing, and the graphics are not at all clear (e.g., can't see my own ship/drill most of the time, for all the stuff going on).”
  • optimization50 mentions

    The game suffers from significant optimization issues, particularly in the late game where performance can drop to unplayable levels, even on high-end PCs. While the gameplay is enjoyable and engaging, the lag and frame rate drops during intense moments detract from the overall experience, indicating a need for quality improvements and better resource management. Despite these shortcomings, many players still find the game worth its price, provided they can overlook the performance problems.

    • “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.”
    • “There were a couple of performance issues here and there, but honestly, they didn't bother me much considering how enjoyable the whole experience was.”
    • “However, there are some big performance issues when things get hectic, even on modern-gen PCs with solid specs, as well as a few bugs and oversights.”
    • “Some late game upgrades create way too many entities and will cause noticeable frame drops and stuttering.”
    • “Yeah, it's poorly optimized and can slow to 1fps on a high-end PC; the last fifth or so overstays its welcome as it tries to become an incremental game that you still need to baby.”
  • replayability30 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is generally considered low, with many players noting that it can be completed in a short time frame and lacks meaningful content after the initial playthrough. While some enjoy speedrunning and find the gameplay addictive, the absence of features like New Game Plus or additional content leaves most feeling that replay value is minimal. Despite its fun mechanics, many reviewers express disappointment over the lack of long-term engagement.

    • “I love the game, it has great replayability and it is a good time waster and pretty fun to collect different types of rocks and craft stuff.”
    • “Good replayability for speedrunning.”
    • “Loved it and I found great replayability in trying to speedrun the game.”
    • “There is no replayability after beating the game or getting all achievements, which only takes a few hours.”
    • “Not much replay value though, so don't expect it to keep you occupied for multiple days as it's very easy to blast through it in the course of a day.”
    • “Granted some of the upgrade paths are just chains of 'make number go bigger', and since all the upgrades are permanent and you'll unlock them all in time, the only strategic decision is which order to unlock things, so there's very little replayability once you've completed the game.”
  • story22 mentions

    The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its absence, with many users noting that it lacks any significant narrative or plot, making it feel anti-climactic. While some appreciate the gameplay mechanics and the casual, relaxing experience it offers, they emphasize that players should not expect a compelling story or deep engagement. Overall, the consensus is that the game is more about gameplay than storytelling, appealing to those looking for a light, distraction-free experience.

    • “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.”
    • “Capitalism sends drill operator into sun in daring mission to mine hydrogen 👍”
    • “All in all definitely recommended when you want to relax and take a break from being preoccupied by a story or competitive gameplay.”
    • “The conclusion is a bit anti-climactic, but that should be expected for a progression-style game with no story.”
    • “There is very nearly zero story.”
    • “No story, no plot.”
  • stability20 mentions

    The game suffers from significant stability issues, including frequent bugs, lag, and a poorly designed user interface that hampers navigation and gameplay. Players report specific problems during endgame stages, such as UI glitches and freezing, particularly in fullscreen mode. Overall, the lack of polish and numerous bugs detract from the gaming experience, making it feel like a "buggy mess."

    • “The game is buggy.”
    • “The UI is bad; scrolling and moving through the menus is slow and buggy.”
    • “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.”
  • humor19 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised, with players noting its youthful and quirky charm, often highlighted by funny sounds and amusing visuals. Many reviews emphasize the game's ability to deliver a lighthearted and entertaining experience, with comments on the comedic elements found in gameplay and post-credits sequences. Overall, the humor contributes significantly to the game's appeal, making it a recommended choice for those seeking a fun and cozy gaming experience.

    • “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.”
  • monetization5 mentions

    The game features a straightforward monetization model with a one-time purchase, allowing players to enjoy the experience without any microtransactions or ads. This approach evokes nostalgia for classic flash games, providing uninterrupted progression and a focus on gameplay rather than monetization tactics. However, some challenges may feel unachievable, and advertising bonuses can be inconsistent.

    • “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).”
    • “There are 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 the advertising bonuses differ from what you 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.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is characterized by a fun and relaxing vibe, enhanced by great music that complements the action-oriented gameplay and contributes to a satisfying sense of progression.

    • “A fun, relaxing action game with great music and an immersive atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.”
    • “The atmosphere is captivating, drawing you into the game world with its stunning visuals and sound design.”
    • “Every moment in the game feels alive, thanks to the rich atmosphere that keeps you engaged and wanting to explore more.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

9hMedian play time
10hAverage play time
7-12hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 74 analyzed playthroughs

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