90
As with any good roguelite, there are new pilots and ships to unlock, as well as card sets and modifiers to change what you’re capable of. It’s also injected with some of that Hades magic, with your pilots dropping new hints to the story with each successful run. The story and characters aren’t quite as in-depth as Hades, but it makes up for that by being funny and charming in a way few games can manage.
87
Delightful deckbuilding that uses starship travel to build upon the Slay the Spire formula instead of merely imitating it. Outstanding.
100
Tight, inventive gameplay, cascading card synergies, and gentle, witty character-writing ensure that, while Cobalt Core might not slay Slay the Spire, it does indeed slay.
10
One of the best examples of its genre. It offers a variety of gameplay options. A must-try for those who love turn-based strategy games. I loved it.
10
Extremely enjoyable game, adding its own twist to the card builder genre with the addition of movement and parts. The characters are adorable and make you want to discover more about them, and everything is topped with one of the most enjoyable soundtracks I heard in a while. An instant favourite!
10
Absolutely solid game. I'm really surprised the average user score here isn't very high (response bias?)—on Steam it's classed as "Overwhelmingly positive." Like the studio's previous game, Sunshine Heavy Industries, this one has beautiful and very consistent aesthetic throughout, as well as lovely music and sounds (many SFX are filtered to give the impression you're really in space; it's quite cool). There is an overarching narrative tying the character's stories together that is really fun to discover as you play through and unlock more characters and ships. Above all, and most importantly, IT'S FUN. Deck-building roguelikes can get stale really fast, but this one is a real joy to play. I got fed up with the two other deck-building roguelikes I've played because they just weren't fair—success was dependent on getting the right setup, which is purely luck-based, and if you don't get the perfect combination of cards and relics/artifacts (or whatever the game calls them) you're screwed. That issue is just not present in Cobalt Core! Every run feels winnable, even if you don't have some crazy broken combination of cards and artifacts. That said, having the right card can really give you a power boost, so it hasn't been toned down too much. The stories this game will generate for you are awesome too—in my first hard mode run I had two situations where I was sure I was doomed, but with a bit of thinking found a way to play my hand that let me survive near-fatal attacks with a couple HP remaining, and then **** my way through to victory. That moment when it looks like your run is over but you find the optimum way to play your cards—again, without relying on luck to give you some crazy broken combos like other deck-builders do—and it turns out you'll live to keep fighting is priceless, and I can't think of any other games that have given me that experience. A must-play in my opinion.
Cobalt Core
Released On:
Nov 8, 2023
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
94
User score
Generally Favorable
7.9
My Score
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All Platforms
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
94
100% Positive
5 Reviews
5 Reviews
0% Mixed
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Dec 13, 2023
100
Tight, inventive gameplay, cascading card synergies, and gentle, witty character-writing ensure that, while Cobalt Core might not slay Slay the Spire, it does indeed slay.
Nov 16, 2023
100
Cobalt Core was a wonderful surprise for me, and is absolutely one of my favorite games of the year. It marries two disparate genres effortlessly and has a deep but easy-to-understand combat mechanic, engaging and lovable characters, and a mysterious plot. If you love rogue-like, deckbuilder, or Shmup, you can’t go wrong with this one.
User score
Generally Favorable
7.9
80% Positive
16 Ratings
16 Ratings
10% Mixed
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
10% Negative
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
Dec 8, 2025
10
One of the best examples of its genre. It offers a variety of gameplay options. A must-try for those who love turn-based strategy games. I loved it.
Jul 8, 2025
10
Extremely enjoyable game, adding its own twist to the card builder genre with the addition of movement and parts. The characters are adorable and make you want to discover more about them, and everything is topped with one of the most enjoyable soundtracks I heard in a while. An instant favourite!
Feb 4, 2024
90
As with any good roguelite, there are new pilots and ships to unlock, as well as card sets and modifiers to change what you’re capable of. It’s also injected with some of that Hades magic, with your pilots dropping new hints to the story with each successful run. The story and characters aren’t quite as in-depth as Hades, but it makes up for that by being funny and charming in a way few games can manage.
Nov 8, 2023
90
Cobalt Core provides a memorable story with fun characters, tense gameplay moments, and a payoff that is nearly unmatched. Despite the characters’ best attempts to escape the loop, it’s a game that you should play over and over.
Jan 19, 2024
87
Delightful deckbuilding that uses starship travel to build upon the Slay the Spire formula instead of merely imitating it. Outstanding.
Nov 8, 2023
tbd
In such a crowded and accomplished genre, getting within spitting distance of these all-time heavyweights is still mighty impressive in my books, and I will absolutely be playing more of it in the months to come.
Jan 9, 2025
10
Absolutely solid game. I'm really surprised the average user score here isn't very high (response bias?)—on Steam it's classed as "Overwhelmingly positive." Like the studio's previous game, Sunshine Heavy Industries, this one has beautiful and very consistent aesthetic throughout, as well as lovely music and sounds (many SFX are filtered to give the impression you're really in space; it's quite cool). There is an overarching narrative tying the character's stories together that is really fun to discover as you play through and unlock more characters and ships. Above all, and most importantly, IT'S FUN. Deck-building roguelikes can get stale really fast, but this one is a real joy to play. I got fed up with the two other deck-building roguelikes I've played because they just weren't fair—success was dependent on getting the right setup, which is purely luck-based, and if you don't get the perfect combination of cards and relics/artifacts (or whatever the game calls them) you're screwed. That issue is just not present in Cobalt Core! Every run feels winnable, even if you don't have some crazy broken combination of cards and artifacts. That said, having the right card can really give you a power boost, so it hasn't been toned down too much. The stories this game will generate for you are awesome too—in my first hard mode run I had two situations where I was sure I was doomed, but with a bit of thinking found a way to play my hand that let me survive near-fatal attacks with a couple HP remaining, and then **** my way through to victory. That moment when it looks like your run is over but you find the optimum way to play your cards—again, without relying on luck to give you some crazy broken combos like other deck-builders do—and it turns out you'll live to keep fighting is priceless, and I can't think of any other games that have given me that experience. A must-play in my opinion.
Nov 26, 2023
9
Amazing space roguelite, the true spiritual successor to FTL that somehow even manages to surpass it. Tight, well balanced gameplay with a large variety of different ways to play, along with a surprisingly deep story filled with incredibly cute characters. To top it all, Cobalt Core even has a solid ending that will leave you more than satisfied. If you like roguelites, FTL or turn based space games then definitely pick this one up.
SummaryA sci-fi roguelike deckbuilder with a deep new single-axis spin on tactics games! "Cobalt Core is a sci-fi roguelike deckbuilder with a unique single-axis combat system that will throw you for a loop. Many loops! Give orders to your crew by playing cards: Will you raise shields to protect your ship, dodge incoming missiles and cann... Read More
Platforms:
- PC
- Nintendo Switch
Initial Release Date:Nov 8, 2023
Developer:
- Rocket Rat Games
Publisher:
