Choose Core Keeper
Choose Core Keeper if you want an Action, Simulation, and RPG experience. 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 Mining Merchant
Core Keeper and Mining Merchant both land in 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 Indie, Adventure on Steam. Core Keeper (2024) is 2 years older than Mining Merchant (2026). Both sit near 94% positive on Steam (Core Keeper: 22,806 reviews, Mining Merchant: 99). 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 Mining Merchant
Choose Mining Merchant if you want a Casual game with Steam Leaderboards, Adjustable Text Size, and Subtitle Options. On Steam, it's currently about 76% cheaper on the Steam Store. Mining Merchant launched in 2026.
Both Core Keeper and Mining Merchant sit in 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. Steam reviews are nearly tied (94.8% vs 93.9% positive), so genre fit is the cleanest tiebreaker — scroll the table for the feature-by-feature view.
Side-by-side comparison
 Core Keeper |  Mining Merchant | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2024 | 2026 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Adventure, Simulation, RPG | Indie, Adventure, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Deck Playable |
| Price | 19.99 USD | 4.89 USD |
| Steam reviews | 94.8% positive (22,806 reviews) | 93.9% positive (99 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | Pugstorm | Delayed Victory |
Side by side
- Both share Indie, Adventure on Steam.
- Core Keeper (2024) is 2 years older than Mining Merchant (2026).
- Both sit near 94% positive on Steam (Core Keeper: 22,806 reviews, Mining Merchant: 99).
- Mining Merchant is currently ~76% cheaper on Steam than Core Keeper (4.89 USD vs. 19.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
- Steam Deck: Core Keeper is Deck Verified, Mining Merchant is Deck Playable.
Core Keeper vs Mining Merchant — FAQ
- Should I play Core Keeper or Mining Merchant first?
- If you want chronology, Core Keeper (2024) came out before Mining Merchant (2026). 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 Mining Merchant similar?
- They overlap on 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 Mining Merchant have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: Core Keeper ships Online Co-op, Co-op; Mining Merchant ships Online Co-op, Co-op.