Written by Alec Blackwood | Misc.

Return from Core merges survival mechanics with automation in a fractured underground realm. Players collaborate with Monster Girl allies to gather resources, construct elaborate bases, and ultimately power a colossal drill to escape to the surface.

Early Game Essentials

• Start with basics: A pickaxe and minimal tools – mine stone and copper to craft your first shelter and workstations.
• Break all walls: Every environment is destructible, allowing strategic path creation or resource extraction. Unlock explosives later for rapid mining.
• Prioritize storage: Inventory management is critical as resources accumulate quickly.

Monster Girl Allies

• Diverse skillsets: Recruit companions specializing in combat, agriculture, crafting, or logistics.
• Trust-building: Strengthen bonds through dialogue, protective actions, and gift-giving to unlock their full potential.
• Automation synergy: Assign companions to manage repetitive tasks, freeing you for exploration and combat.

Base Design Strategy

• Modular expansion: Begin with a core shelter containing storage and crafting stations. Gradually add specialized zones like smelting areas and farming plots.
• Defensive planning: Secure perimeter walls and automated turrets become vital as threats escalate.
• Efficiency focus: Cluster related machines (e.g., furnaces near mines) to minimize transportation bottlenecks.

Dangerous Depths

• Real-time combat: Combine your attacks with companions’ abilities to overcome underground horrors.
• Progressive difficulty: Deeper exploration requires upgraded gear, careful team composition, and ample healing supplies.
• Environmental hazards: Some areas contain toxic gases or unstable terrain demanding specialized equipment.

Endgame Objective

Powering the massive drill requires establishing a self-sustaining infrastructure. Players must:

• Secure rare materials from high-risk zones
• Maintain complex supply chains for constant fuel production
• Defend against escalating enemy raids

FAQ

Controller compatibility?

Partial controller support is implemented.

Gear progression system?

Upgrade crafting stations using rare materials to unlock advanced equipment.

Combat importance?

Essential for progression – ruins guard crucial resources and technology.

Primary objective?

Activate and sustain the super drill to reach the surface.

Automation capabilities?

Yes – construct machines to handle crafting, resource processing, and item transport.

Companion roles?

Assist in combat, resource management, and base operations with unique buffs.

Multiplayer mode?

Solo experience only – no multiplayer components.

Core gameplay loop?

Survival-automation hybrid focusing on underground exploration and base optimization.