Return from Core

Developer: Tanxun Studio
Release: Jul 17th 2025
Platforms:
Action
Adventure
Indie
RPG
Simulation
Addictive
Creative
Charming
Buggy
Unpolished
Return from Core Poster

" Engaging action-adventure RPG with charming companions and automation, but plagued by bugs "

Return from Core Review

Return from Core presents a blend of underground exploration, automation, and RPG elements with a focus on monster girls and base-building. Players appreciate the engaging gameplay loop involving farming, combat, mining, and crafting, enhanced by automation and NPC companions. The game offers a streamlined crafting system and functional base-building mechanics that reward strategic planning and exploration.

However, the game is hampered by a variety of issues including poor English translation, bugs, and subpar controller support. Many players report quest bugs, UI problems, and occasional crashes that detract from the experience. The pacing and quest design also receive criticism for being tedious. Despite these flaws, the game has a dedicated fanbase who enjoy the story, graphics, and unique monster girl interactions, hoping future updates will polish the experience further.

Highlights

Players praise the game’s engaging gameplay mechanics such as automation, combat with unique weapon abilities, and base-building. The monster girl companions add charm and depth to the story, making the narrative more appealing. The graphics are considered better than similar genre titles, and the crafting system is streamlined to reduce unnecessary grind.

The game’s exploration and RPG elements, combined with a decent storyline and character interactions, provide a solid foundation that many find enjoyable despite rough edges.

Criticisms

Common criticisms focus on technical issues and polish. The English translation is often described as poor, sometimes hindering comprehension. Controller support is reported as unreliable and frustrating. Numerous bugs affect quest progression, UI readability, and inventory management, including lost items and crashes.

Players also find the quest pacing slow and tedious, with some quests not registering progress correctly. The game feels rushed in its 1.0 release, leading to an experience that many feel is incomplete and in need of further refinement.

Pros

  • Engaging automation and base-building mechanics enhance gameplay depth and strategy.
  • Monster girl companions add charm and enrich the storyline and combat.
  • Streamlined crafting reduces grind and encourages exploration.
  • Graphics are visually appealing and better than similar genre games.
  • Functional storage systems with built-in filters improve inventory management.
  • Fast travel features reduce tedious backtracking during exploration.
  • Combat includes unique weapon abilities adding tactical variety.

Cons

  • Poor English translation hampers understanding and immersion.
  • Numerous bugs affect quests, UI, and inventory causing frustration.
  • Controller support is unreliable and difficult to use effectively.
  • Quest pacing is slow and some quests fail to register progress.
  • Inventory and chest management bugs cause loss of items.
  • The 1.0 release feels rushed and lacks polish.
  • Lack of base defense systems reduces gameplay challenge.

Rating Criteria

Story
Difficulty
Graphics
Duration
Stability
Worth the Price
Capsule image

Mine, build, and explore with Monster Girl companions in this underground sandbox adventure. Uncover lost tech, automate production, and forge bonds with allies as you fight to survive and journey back to the surface.

Release Date Jul 17th 2025
Publisher 2P Games, Shochiku
Developer Tanxun Studio
Platforms

User Reviews

Mixed (127)
67% Positive 33% Negative