Choose Core Keeper
Choose Core Keeper if you want a Simulation experience. On Steam, it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 94.8% positive across 22,806 reviews.
Core Keeper vs Pirates
Core Keeper and Pirates both land in Action, Indie, Adventure on Steam, which is why they keep getting compared. The comparison below is built from each game's Steam metadata — release year, genres, categories, Steam Deck status, price, and review score — refreshed daily by imho.run's scraper. Headline differences: Both share Action, Indie, Adventure on Steam. Pirates (2021) is 3 years older than Core Keeper (2024). Core Keeper scores higher on Steam reviews (94.8% positive) than Pirates (73.5% positive). No login or purchase needed — scroll for the full table, the verdict FAQ, and links to ranked similar games for both titles.
Which should you pick?
Choose Pirates
Choose Pirates if you want a Free To Play and Casual game with Online PvP and PvP. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. Pirates launched in 2021.
Both Core Keeper and Pirates sit in Action, Indie, and Adventure on Steam and both list Multi-player, Online Co-op, and Co-op, so either pick lands in the same broad neighborhood. Use the side-by-side table for the feature view, or follow the "Games like" links below to see ranked alternatives for either title.
Side-by-side comparison
 Core Keeper |  Pirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2024 | 2021 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Adventure, Simulation, RPG | Action, Indie, Adventure, RPG, Free To Play, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Unrated |
| Price | 19.99 USD | Free to play |
| Steam reviews | 94.8% positive (22,806 reviews) | 73.5% positive (389 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | Pugstorm | F.P. Games |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie, Adventure on Steam.
- Pirates (2021) is 3 years older than Core Keeper (2024).
- Core Keeper scores higher on Steam reviews (94.8% positive) than Pirates (73.5% positive).
- Pirates is free; Core Keeper is paid (19.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
- Core Keeper is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Pirates has no Deck rating yet.
Core Keeper vs Pirates — FAQ
- Which is better, Core Keeper or Pirates?
- On Steam reviews Core Keeper scores higher (94.8% positive) than Pirates (73.5% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, Core Keeper is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.
- Should I play Core Keeper or Pirates first?
- If you want chronology, Pirates (2021) came out before Core Keeper (2024). If neither is a sequel to the other, order doesn't really matter — start with whichever fits your current mood, since both share enough on Steam to make either a reasonable opener.
- Are Core Keeper and Pirates similar?
- They overlap on Action, Indie, Adventure on Steam, so the catalogue groups them together — but "similar" depends on the specific mechanics. Use the genre + category rows above to decide whether the overlap matches what drew you to the one you've already played.
- Do both Core Keeper and Pirates have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: Core Keeper ships Online Co-op, Co-op; Pirates ships Online Co-op, Co-op.
- Is Pirates free?
- Yes — Pirates is a free-to-play Steam title. Core Keeper is paid (19.99 USD).
- Does Core Keeper run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Core Keeper is rated Deck Verified by Valve. Pirates doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.