Choose Core Keeper
Choose Core Keeper if you want an Adventure and RPG game with Multi-player, Online Co-op, and Co-op. On Steam, it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. 22,806 Steam reviews back the pick.
Core Keeper vs Mechanical Lab
Core Keeper and Mechanical Lab both land in Action, Indie, Simulation 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, Simulation on Steam. Core Keeper (2024) is 1 year older than Mechanical Lab (2025). Mechanical Lab is currently ~75% cheaper on Steam than Core Keeper (4.99 USD vs. 19.99 USD). 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 Mechanical Lab
Choose Mechanical Lab if you want the HDR available side of the pairing. On Steam, it's currently about 75% cheaper on the Steam Store. Mechanical Lab launched in 2025.
Both Core Keeper and Mechanical Lab sit in Action, Indie, and Simulation on Steam, 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 |  Mechanical Lab | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2024 | 2025 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Adventure, Simulation, RPG | Action, Indie, Simulation |
| Platforms | Windows, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Unrated |
| Price | 19.99 USD | 4.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 94.8% positive (22,806 reviews) | 3 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op | Single-player only |
| Developers | Pugstorm | Seven Arm Octopus |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie, Simulation on Steam.
- Core Keeper (2024) is 1 year older than Mechanical Lab (2025).
- Mechanical Lab is currently ~75% cheaper on Steam than Core Keeper (4.99 USD vs. 19.99 USD).
- Core Keeper has co-op; Mechanical Lab does not.
- Core Keeper is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Mechanical Lab has no Deck rating yet.
Core Keeper vs Mechanical Lab — FAQ
- Should I play Core Keeper or Mechanical Lab first?
- If you want chronology, Core Keeper (2024) came out before Mechanical Lab (2025). 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 Mechanical Lab similar?
- They overlap on Action, Indie, Simulation 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.
- Does Mechanical Lab have multiplayer like Core Keeper?
- No. Core Keeper supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op), while Mechanical Lab is listed as single-player only.
- Does Core Keeper run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Core Keeper is rated Deck Verified by Valve. Mechanical Lab doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.