Games like Return from Core on Steam
For those who prefer not to search, lists of the most played, top deals and best free games like Return from Core are available at the bottom of the page.
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Tinkerlands: A Shipwrecked Adventure
A Shipwrecked Adventure is a free prologue immersing you into the vast world of Tinkerlands. Uncover the story of the first survivors on these mystical islands. Explore the breathtaking archipelago, craft essential tools, build your settlement, and strive to survive!
Desynced
Desynced is a sci-fi strategy game with fully customizable units and behaviors. Gather, build, research, and explore the unknown. Alone or with friends, unveil the mystery of an AI on the edge of self-awareness and uncover the hidden truth in this blend of strategy, automation, and exploration.
Tinkertown
Gather your friends and come to Tinkertown - A refreshing new Multiplayer Sandbox Experience! Explore magical places filled with loot, danger, and creativity.
Wurm Unlimited
Wurm Unlimited is the standalone version of the fantasy sandbox world Wurm Online, the MMORPG where the players are in charge! A pioneer in the ideas of player influence, crafting and adventure, it is now one of the most deep and feature packed true sandbox experiences available.
UnReal World
The cult classic open-ended wilderness survival roguelike RPG taking place in the ancient North. Throughout the years, UnReal World has been praised for its incredible depth, realism, atmosphere and immersion. Lose yourself in the most intricate, detailed and enchanting iron-age game world.
TerraTech
TerraTech is an open-world, sandbox adventure game, where you design and build your own creations through a mix of crafting, combat and discovery. Design vehicles from a huge library of blocks. Scavenge, craft and buy new parts to survive and become the ultimate planetary prospector.
Fargone
Fargone is an RPG-based survival game with a strong focus on creating a living, breathing world through dynamic events, and NPC interactions. Set in a fictional land known only as The Barrens, you must survive by any means, whether that be alone or by allying yourself with a faction.
Pacific Drive
Face the supernatural dangers of the Olympic Exclusion Zone with a car as your only lifeline in this driving survival adventure! Scavenge resources, load up your trusty station wagon, and drive like hell to make it through alive.
Sea of Craft
Hello! Captain! “Sea Of Craft” is a sandbox ocean-building game with realistic physics simulation. In “Sea of Craft”, you can build your exclusive ship with hundreds of materials, and explore intriguing stages on planet Beella as well as adventures of wonders in the great ocean!
Citadel: Forged with Fire
This massive online sandbox RPG features elements of magic, spellcasting, building, exploring and crafting. As a newly minted apprentice of the magic arts, you will set off to the dangerous world of Ignus. Tame mighty beasts, forge alliances, explore uncharted territories or fight for dominance!
IDUN - Frontline Survival
A defense RTS where you can move turrets at will. Extract resources, upgrade technology, and defend against enemy swarms in a gripping space campaign. Hold the line, set up your turrets, and brace for screen-filling hordes!
RAILGRADE
RAILGRADE is the train RTS game! Construct dense vertical railroads, build cities, construct vast factory chains with train automation! Restore an off world colony's economy all in the intense story driven campaign or relaxing sandbox mode!
Automation Empire
Build and manage a massive industrial network of factories, mines, and farms. Employ a fleet of trains, trucks, and robotic drones. In the age of automation, efficiency is survival!
Himno - The Silent Melody
Himno - The Silent Melody is an atmospheric roguelite action RPG. Explore different interconnected environments, gather materials to create your unique arsenal and build and automate your base.
Space Engineers
Space Engineers is a sandbox game about engineering, construction, exploration and survival in space and on planets. Players build space ships, space stations, planetary outposts of various sizes and uses, pilot ships and travel through space to explore planets and gather resources to survive.
Castle Story
Castle Story is a creative voxel-based strategy game in which you can build castles one brick at a time using an army of little creatures called Bricktrons. Design and build your own castles, expand your territory in a vast landscape and defend your Bricktrons against onslaughts of hostile creatures.
Microtopia
Become the hive mind of a robot ant colony in Microtopia! Use pheromone trails to create, automate and optimize supply chains for your ants to follow. Collect resources, produce goods, feed your queen, grow your colony and fly out to expand the species!
Aloft
Soar the skies in Aloft, the co-op sandbox survival game set in a world of floating islands. Build any island into a skyship, your home in the clouds. Find lost knowledge, cure the fungal corruption, and brave the hurricane to restore the ecosystem.
ICARUS
ICARUS is a PvE survival game for up to eight players. Explore a savage wilderness in the aftermath of terraforming gone wrong. Survive the Open World, complete timed Missions or build your Outpost. Explore, build, craft and hunt while seeking your fortune and prospecting for exotic matter.
Black Skylands
Become the captain of an airship and explore the world of the skies, gather resources and build powerful weapons, uncover ancient secrets and fight beneath your ship's sails.Most played games like Return from Core on Steam
Take a look at the top games like Return from Core that are currently attracting the largest player bases on the Steam platform, as of April 19th 2025.
1. RuneScape: Dragonwilds
Similarity 68% On RuneScape’s forgotten continent of Ashenfall, dragons have awoken. Gather, build, skill and craft to survive in this co-operative (1-4) survival crafting game. Only by mastering survival and uncovering ancient secrets can they hope to slay the Dragon Queen—alone or with allies. RuneScape: Dragonwilds is a early access, survival and multiplayer game developed and published by Jagex Ltd. Released on April 15th 2025 has received 4,514 reviews of which 3,711 were positive and 803 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.0 out of 10. The game has hit the top spot as the #1 most played game like Return from Core, thanks to its 47,839 peak concurrent players over the last day.
8.0
3,711
803
47,839
players
2. Valheim
Similarity 64% A brutal exploration and survival game for 1-10 players, set in a procedurally-generated purgatory inspired by viking culture. Battle, build, and conquer your way to a saga worthy of Odin’s patronage! Valheim is a open world survival craft, survival and online co-op game developed by Iron Gate AB and published by Coffee Stain Publishing. Released on February 02nd 2021 has received 494,961 reviews of which 467,117 were positive and 27,844 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.4 out of 10. While seeing 25,592 players online at once in the last 24 hours, this game is currently ranked #2 among games like Return from Core based on player count.
9.4
467,117
27,844
25,592
players
3. Terraria
Similarity 53% Dig, fight, explore, build! Nothing is impossible in this action-packed adventure game. Four Pack also available! Terraria is a open world survival craft, sandbox and survival game developed and published by Re-Logic. Released on May 16th 2011 has received 1,394,254 reviews of which 1,359,264 were positive and 34,990 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.7 out of 10. While seeing 24,884 players online at once in the last 24 hours, this game is currently ranked #3 among games like Return from Core based on player count.
9.7
1,359,264
34,990
24,884
players
4. Project Zomboid
Similarity 59% Project Zomboid is the ultimate in zombie survival. Alone or in MP: you loot, build, craft, fight, farm and fish in a struggle to survive. A hardcore RPG skillset, a vast map, massively customisable sandbox and a cute tutorial raccoon await the unwary. So how will you die? All it takes is a bite.. Project Zomboid is a survival, zombies and open world game developed and published by The Indie Stone. Released on November 08th 2013 has received 367,520 reviews of which 346,127 were positive and 21,393 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.3 out of 10. With 22,451 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #4 spot among the most played games like Return from Core.
9.3
346,127
21,393
22,451
players
5. ARK: Survival Evolved
Similarity 63% Stranded on the shores of a mysterious island, you must learn to survive. Use your cunning to kill or tame the primeval creatures roaming the land, and encounter other players to survive, dominate... and escape! ARK: Survival Evolved is a open world survival craft, survival and multiplayer game developed by Studio Wildcard, Instinct Games, Efecto Studios and Virtual Basement LLC and published by Studio Wildcard and Snail Games USA. Released on August 27th 2017 has received 724,811 reviews of which 607,154 were positive and 117,657 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.3 out of 10. With 22,313 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #5 spot among the most played games like Return from Core.
8.3
607,154
117,657
22,313
players
6. Satisfactory
Similarity 77% Satisfactory is a first-person open-world factory building game with a dash of exploration and combat. Play alone or with friends, explore an alien planet, create multi-story factories, and enter conveyor belt heaven! Satisfactory is a base-building, automation and open world game developed by Coffee Stain Studios and published by Coffee Stain Publishing. Released on September 10th 2024 has received 228,332 reviews of which 221,780 were positive and 6,552 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.6 out of 10. With 19,872 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #6 spot among the most played games like Return from Core.
9.6
221,780
6,552
19,872
players
7. Palworld
Similarity 51% Fight, farm, build and work alongside mysterious creatures called "Pals" in this completely new multiplayer, open world survival and crafting game! Palworld is a open world, survival and multiplayer game developed and published by Pocketpair. Released on January 18th 2024 has received 376,422 reviews of which 354,339 were positive and 22,083 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.3 out of 10. With 19,664 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #7 spot among the most played games like Return from Core.
9.3
354,339
22,083
19,664
players
8. Factorio
Similarity 59% Factorio is a game about building and creating automated factories to produce items of increasing complexity, within an infinite 2D world. Use your imagination to design your factory, combine simple elements into ingenious structures, and finally protect it from the creatures who don't really like you. Factorio is a automation, base-building and resource management game developed and published by Wube Software LTD.. Released on August 14th 2020 has received 212,622 reviews of which 206,226 were positive and 6,396 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.6 out of 10. With 18,327 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #8 spot among the most played games like Return from Core.
9.6
206,226
6,396
18,327
players
9. Sons Of The Forest
Similarity 70% Sent to find a missing billionaire on a remote island, you find yourself in a cannibal-infested hellscape. Craft, build, and struggle to survive, alone or with friends, in this terrifying new open-world survival horror simulator. Sons Of The Forest is a survival, open world and multiplayer game developed by Endnight Games Ltd and published by Newnight . Released on February 22nd 2024 has received 248,117 reviews of which 217,551 were positive and 30,566 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.7 out of 10. With 12,018 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #9 spot among the most played games like Return from Core.
8.7
217,551
30,566
12,018
players
10. Enshrouded
Similarity 70% You are Flameborn, last ember of hope of a dying race. Awaken, survive the terror of a corrupting fog, and reclaim the lost beauty of your kingdom. Venture into a vast world, vanquish punishing bosses, build grand halls and forge your path in this co-op survival action RPG for up to 16 players. Enshrouded is a open world, survival and base-building game developed and published by Keen Games GmbH. Released on January 24th 2024 has received 73,935 reviews of which 64,121 were positive and 9,814 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.6 out of 10. With 10,852 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #10 spot among the most played games like Return from Core.
8.6
64,121
9,814
10,852
players
Best deals on games like Return from Core on Steam
Discover fantastic savings with the best discounts on a variety of games like Return from Core available on Steam right now, updated on April 19th 2025. Looking for even more deals? Use the search filters to explore a wider range of discounted games like Return from Core.
1. Black Skylands
Similarity 55% Become the captain of an airship and explore the world of the skies, gather resources and build powerful weapons, uncover ancient secrets and fight beneath your ship's sails. Black Skylands is a pixel graphics, open world and sandbox game developed by Hungry Couch Games and published by tinyBuild. Released on August 15th 2023 has received 3,806 reviews of which 3,155 were positive and 651 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.0 out of 10. Featuring a massive 95% discount, this game currently holds the #1 spot in the best deals for games like Return from Core.
8.0
3,155
651
-95%
20.00€
1.00€
2. Founders' Fortune
Similarity 51% A fantasy village builder focusing on creative building, colonist psychology and base defense. Handle resources, farming, production, tools, diplomacy, families, trading, defense, and research, as well as the wishes, expectations, thoughts, and equipment of every villager. Founders' Fortune is a colony sim, base-building and city builder game developed and published by Dionic Software. Released on December 18th 2020 has received 2,097 reviews of which 1,688 were positive and 409 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.7 out of 10. Thanks to its incredible 95% discount, this game is now the #2 best deal in games like Return from Core.
7.7
1,688
409
-95%
20.00€
1.00€
3. InfraSpace
Similarity 51% Create an extrasolar efficiency utopia from scratch! In this sci-fi city builder you need to start mining operations, plan production, and lay down transportation routes to ensure a smooth supply chain. InfraSpace is a city builder, automation and transportation game developed and published by Dionic Software. Released on September 22nd 2023 has received 1,611 reviews of which 1,297 were positive and 314 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.7 out of 10. Thanks to its incredible 95% discount, this game is now the #3 best deal in games like Return from Core.
7.7
1,297
314
-95%
20.00€
1.00€
4. Starsand
Similarity 58% Starsand is a mystic survival game set among the dunes of an arcane desert. An open-world full of danger, vast environments and mysterious happenings await you! Explore, hunt, craft, build – and SURVIVE. Starsand is a open world survival craft, survival and open world game developed by Tunnel Vision Studio and published by Toplitz Productions. Released on November 17th 2022 has received 1,136 reviews of which 763 were positive and 373 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.5 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 94% discount, this title has earned the #4 position in the best deals for games like Return from Core.
6.5
763
373
-94%
16.67€
1.00€
5. TerraTech
Similarity 56% TerraTech is an open-world, sandbox adventure game, where you design and build your own creations through a mix of crafting, combat and discovery. Design vehicles from a huge library of blocks. Scavenge, craft and buy new parts to survive and become the ultimate planetary prospector. TerraTech is a building, sandbox and open world game developed and published by Payload Studios. Released on August 10th 2018 has received 23,221 reviews of which 21,196 were positive and 2,025 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.9 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 92% discount, this title has earned the #5 position in the best deals for games like Return from Core.
8.9
21,196
2,025
-92%
25.75€
2.06€
6. Portal Knights
Similarity 65% The world of Elysia needs YOU! Join this cooperative, 3D sandbox action RPG to level up your character, craft epic weapons, conquer enemies in real-time, and build almost anything! Craft your adventure. Forge your hero. Become the ultimate Portal Knight! Portal Knights is a adventure, multiplayer and sandbox game developed by Keen Games GmbH and published by 505 Games. Released on May 18th 2017 has received 21,604 reviews of which 18,022 were positive and 3,582 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.2 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 92% discount, this title has earned the #6 position in the best deals for games like Return from Core.
8.2
18,022
3,582
-92%
20.75€
1.66€
7. Conan Exiles
Similarity 53% An online multiplayer survival game, now with sorcery, set in the lands of Conan the Barbarian. Survive in a vast open world sandbox, build your home into a kingdom, and dominate your enemies in single or multiplayer. Conan Exiles is a survival and open world game developed and published by Funcom. Released on May 08th 2018 has received 106,495 reviews of which 83,765 were positive and 22,730 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.8 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 91% discount, this title has earned the #7 position in the best deals for games like Return from Core.
7.8
83,765
22,730
-91%
41.89€
3.77€
8. Autonauts
Similarity 53% In Autonauts you must build, create, and automate. Start by establishing a colony, crafting bots and teaching them via Scratch-style programming to build an ever evolving autonomous paradise of agriculture, industry and enlightenment. Autonauts is a simulation, programming and automation game developed by Denki and published by Curve Games. Released on October 17th 2019 has received 4,751 reviews of which 4,251 were positive and 500 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.6 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 90% discount, this title has earned the #8 position in the best deals for games like Return from Core.
8.6
4,251
500
-90%
20.60€
2.06€
9. Mr. Prepper
Similarity 53% Mr. Prepper is about being prepared. You know something is wrong. The risk of a nuclear war is in the air and you need to get ready for what's coming. Mr. Prepper is a survival, simulation and base-building game developed by Rejected Games and published by Rejected Games and PlayWay S.A.. Released on March 18th 2021 has received 4,828 reviews of which 3,903 were positive and 925 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.8 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 90% discount, this title has earned the #9 position in the best deals for games like Return from Core.
7.8
3,903
925
-90%
18.80€
1.88€
10. Above Snakes
Similarity 65% Piece by piece, create your own world in this relaxing Wild West-inspired worldbuilder. Craft, farm, hunt, build your base, and explore. Above Snakes is a open world, atmospheric and open world survival craft game developed by Square Glade Games and published by Crytivo. Released on May 25th 2023 has received 1,669 reviews of which 1,270 were positive and 399 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.3 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 89% discount, this title has earned the #10 position in the best deals for games like Return from Core.
7.3
1,270
399
-89%
25.73€
2.83€
Free games like Return from Core on Steam
Check out this fantastic list of free-to-play games like Return from Core you can enjoy on Steam right now, updated on April 19th 2025. Looking for even more free titles? Use the search filters to explore a wider range of free to play games like Return from Core.
1. Fallout Shelter
Similarity 60% Fallout Shelter puts you in control of a state-of-the-art underground Vault from Vault-Tec. Build the perfect Vault, keep your Dwellers happy, and protect them from the dangers of the Wasteland. Fallout Shelter is a free to play, base-building and survival game developed by Bethesda Game Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks. Released on March 29th 2017 has received 73,819 reviews of which 65,306 were positive and 8,513 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.7 out of 10. With 1,067 active players enjoying it for free, this strategy game has reached the #1 spot among the top free games like Return from Core.
8.7
65,306
8,513
1,067
players
2. The Genesis Project
Similarity 58% The Genesis Project is an attempt to replicate Sburb from the popular webcomic Homestuck, made by Andrew Hussie. The Genesis Project is a early access, adventure and rpg game developed and published by Perfectly Generic Team. Released on April 13th 2022 has received 1,733 reviews of which 1,487 were positive and 246 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.2 out of 10. The game currently holds the #2 spot among the most played free games like Return from Core.
8.2
1,487
246
32
players
3. Gladiators: Survival in Rome
Similarity 50% Gladiators: Survival in Rome is an Action RPG with casual survival game mechanics and active city building. You'll experience a new type of survival game with quests & dungeons, continuous progression, seasonal events and lots of spear poking. Gladiators: Survival in Rome is a early access, rome and action rpg game developed and published by Colossi Games. Released on April 13th 2023 has received 359 reviews of which 233 were positive and 126 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.2 out of 10. The game currently holds the #3 spot among the most played free games like Return from Core.
6.2
233
126
21
players
4. Plasma
Similarity 55% Plasma is a pure engineering sandbox. Use advanced visual programming and robotics tools to create anything you can imagine. Plasma is a simulation, sandbox and 3d game developed by Dry Cactus and Licorice ehf and published by Dry Licorice. Released on September 13th 2023 has received 849 reviews of which 757 were positive and 92 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.4 out of 10. The game currently holds the #4 spot among the most played free games like Return from Core.
8.4
757
92
13
players
5. CHKN
Similarity 55% Behold, the miracle of life… packed into cubes! Create fantastic creatures in an open-world sandbox game like no other. Explore, craft, and survive—all with the help of your very own creations. CHKN is a sandbox, adventure and open world game developed and published by Katapult. Released on April 01st 2016 has received 1,634 reviews of which 1,302 were positive and 332 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.7 out of 10. The game currently holds the #5 spot among the most played free games like Return from Core.
7.7
1,302
332
12
players
6. Daisho: Survival of a Samurai
Similarity 50% Daisho: Survival of a Samurai is an Action RPG with casual survival game mechanics and big village-building possibilities. You'll experience a new type of survival game with quests, continuous open world progression, monthly events and your dumb ways to die not harming your fun level. Daisho: Survival of a Samurai is a early access, ninja and free to play game developed and published by Colossi Games. Released on August 22nd 2023 has received 423 reviews of which 310 were positive and 113 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.0 out of 10. The game currently holds the #6 spot among the most played free games like Return from Core.
7.0
310
113
12
players
7. Outpost
Similarity 53% Outpost brings the perfect mix between survival and roguelite gameplay. Start the game in a randomly generated environment and try to adapt, and make it through as many nights as possible. How long can you survive? Outpost is a free to play, indie and strategy game developed and published by Open Mid Interactive. Released on May 01st 2020 has received 757 reviews of which 664 were positive and 93 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.3 out of 10. The game currently holds the #7 spot among the most played free games like Return from Core.
8.3
664
93
3
players
8. Planet Explorers
Similarity 66% Planet Explorers is an open world sandbox adventure RPG game set on a distant planet. The game uses a new OpenCL calculated voxel system to allow players to change the terrain in any way, create new objects such as weapons, vehicles, objects, and do it anywhere. Planet Explorers is a open world survival craft, sandbox and open world game developed and published by Pathea Games. Released on November 08th 2016 has received 6,809 reviews of which 4,227 were positive and 2,582 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.1 out of 10. The game currently holds the #8 spot among the most played free games like Return from Core.
6.1
4,227
2,582
3
players
9. Tinkerlands: A Shipwrecked Adventure
Similarity 56% A Shipwrecked Adventure is a free prologue immersing you into the vast world of Tinkerlands. Uncover the story of the first survivors on these mystical islands. Explore the breathtaking archipelago, craft essential tools, build your settlement, and strive to survive! Tinkerlands: A Shipwrecked Adventure is a open world survival craft, action-adventure and procedural generation game developed by CodeManu and Endless Coffee and published by HypeTrain Digital. Released on April 12th 2024 has received 2,025 reviews of which 1,911 were positive and 114 were negative resulting in a rating of 9.0 out of 10. The game currently holds the #9 spot among the most played free games like Return from Core.
9.0
1,911
114
2
players
10. Prospector: The First Contract
Similarity 65% As the Prospector in this Prologue chapter, you will be taking on your first contract. Explore new planets, gather resources, build your fully automated base, and ship materials to distant colonies. Prospector: The First Contract is a open world survival craft, sandbox and survival game developed by Loonworks Games and published by HypeTrain Digital. Released on July 12th 2024 has received 496 reviews of which 457 were positive and 39 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.6 out of 10. The game currently holds the #10 spot among the most played free games like Return from Core.
8.6
457
39