Cobalt Core Review Summary

Engaging and replayable gameplay: The game offers a high level of replayability due to its varied crew makeup, card choices, and strategic depth. Players appreciate the diverse combinations and the unique positioning system, which adds a fresh twist to the deckbuilding genre.

Charming and well-developed characters: Characters in the game are frequently described as charming, funny, and well-developed. Their personalities and dialogues add depth and humor to the game, making the overall experience more engaging and enjoyable.

Highly praised music and atmosphere: The game's music and overall atmosphere are frequently highlighted as standout features. Players describe the soundtrack as haunting, beautiful, and perfectly fitting the mood and vibe of the game. The music is often noted for its emotional impact and variety, contributing significantly to the immersive experience.

Innovative ship movement mechanics: The game introduces innovative ship movement mechanics that add a layer of strategy and complexity to the combat. Players appreciate the unique positioning and targeting systems, which encourage mobility and defense.

Adjustable and fair difficulty: The game offers adjustable difficulty levels, making it accessible to both new and experienced players. The difficulty curve is described as fair and well-balanced, providing a challenging yet not frustrating experience.

Limited content and variety: The game has a limited amount of content, including few enemies, cards, ships, and artifacts. This lack of variety makes the game feel repetitive and not worth the price for many players.

Repetitive and lackluster gameplay: The game suffers from repetitive gameplay mechanics, including repetitive battles, events, and card mechanics. Players often feel that the game lacks depth and variety, making it boring over time.

Price and value concerns: Many players feel that the game is overpriced for the amount of content and depth it offers. The value proposition is criticized, especially when compared to other games in the genre.

Balance and difficulty issues: The game has balance issues, with some characters and cards being overpowered while others are weak. The difficulty can be frustrating, and the game lacks a satisfying progression system.

Grinding and progression issues: Players find the grinding required to unlock all memories and complete the game tedious. The progression system is criticized for being too slow and not rewarding enough.

Strategic deckbuilding gameplay: The game combines roguelike elements with strategic deckbuilding, where players build decks from different characters, each with unique pros and cons. The gameplay involves precise positioning and movement, requiring tactical planning and decision-making.

Character and ship variety: Players can unlock various ships and characters, each with unique abilities and card pools. This variety allows for different strategies and gameplay experiences, enhancing replayability.

Positioning and movement mechanics: The game introduces unique positioning and movement mechanics, where players must strategically position their ships to avoid enemy attacks and plan their movements carefully.

Difficulty and accessibility: The game offers multiple difficulty levels, making it accessible for casual players while providing a challenge for experienced players. Runs are relatively short, allowing for quick gameplay sessions.

Story and narrative elements: The game features a well-integrated story with a time loop theme, where players uncover the narrative through successful runs. The story progression is tied to gameplay, adding depth to the experience.

Good performance on Steam Deck: Many players have noted that the game runs really well on the Steam Deck, indicating good optimization for this platform.

Game crashing issues: Some players have reported that the game keeps crashing, affecting their overall experience.

Sound persists when alt-tabbing: A notable bug where the sound does not stop or mute when the player alt-tabs out of the game.

Technical glitch on Linux: Some players have encountered technical glitches specifically on Ubuntu Linux, affecting their gameplay experience.

Highly recommended for fans: The game is frequently praised as a must-play, especially for fans of deckbuilding, roguelike, and strategy games. Many reviewers compare it favorably to games like Slay the Spire and FTL, highlighting its innovative gameplay, smooth replayability, and engaging story.

Worth the price: Reviewers consistently mention that the game is worth its price, even at full price, and especially on sale. It is seen as a good bargain and a crazy value for the price, offering multiple gaming sessions and a fresh feel.

Recommended for specific genres: The game is highly recommended for fans of specific genres such as roguelikes, deckbuilders, and strategy games. It is also suggested as a good entry point for beginners in these genres.

Positive mentions of similar games: The game is often compared to other popular games like Slay the Spire, FTL, and Hades. Reviewers suggest that if you enjoyed these games, you will likely enjoy this one as well.

Good for relaxation: Some reviewers mention that the game is great for chilling on voice chat and recommend it if you need some time to vanish, indicating its suitability for relaxation and casual play.

Steam Deck: The game performs exceptionally well on the Steam Deck, with users reporting smooth gameplay, good battery life, and high overall satisfaction. The game is also compatible with Linux systems, and there are plans for a native Linux build, which would further improve the experience. Users have expressed positive feedback about the game's design and its suitability for the Steam Deck.

Game on sale influenced purchase: A significant discount of 51% prompted the purchase of the game. Players should be aware that the game is highly engaging and may require a substantial time commitment.

Game released two years ago: The game was released approximately two years ago, indicating it has been available for some time.

Mac port available: The game is available on Mac, making it accessible to a wider range of players who use different operating systems.

External training program mentioned: There is a mention of an external training program related to the game, which could be useful for players looking to improve their skills or understanding of the game.