Choose Lantern Forge
Choose Lantern Forge if it's a focused single-player run rather than a multiplayer commitment. Lantern Forge launched in 2014.
Lantern Forge vs Core Keeper
Lantern Forge and Core Keeper both land in Indie, Adventure, RPG 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, RPG on Steam. Lantern Forge (2014) is 10 years older than Core Keeper (2024). Core Keeper scores higher on Steam reviews (94.8% positive) than Lantern Forge (53.4% 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 Core Keeper
Choose Core Keeper if you want an Action and Simulation game with Multi-player, Online Co-op, and Co-op. On Steam, it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 94.8% positive across 22,806 reviews.
Both Lantern Forge and Core Keeper sit in Indie, Adventure, and RPG 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
 Lantern Forge |  Core Keeper | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2014 | 2024 |
| Genres | Indie, Adventure, RPG | Action, Indie, Adventure, Simulation, RPG |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Deck Verified |
| Price | 9.99 USD | 11.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 53.4% positive (178 reviews) | 94.8% positive (22,806 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | Hearthfire Studios | Pugstorm |
Side by side
- Both share Indie, Adventure, RPG on Steam.
- Lantern Forge (2014) is 10 years older than Core Keeper (2024).
- Core Keeper scores higher on Steam reviews (94.8% positive) than Lantern Forge (53.4% positive).
- Lantern Forge is currently ~17% cheaper on Steam than Core Keeper (9.99 USD vs. 11.99 USD).
- Core Keeper has co-op; Lantern Forge does not.
- Core Keeper is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Lantern Forge has no Deck rating yet.
Lantern Forge vs Core Keeper — FAQ
- Which is better, Lantern Forge or Core Keeper?
- On Steam reviews Core Keeper scores higher (94.8% positive) than Lantern Forge (53.4% 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 Lantern Forge or Core Keeper first?
- If you want chronology, Lantern Forge (2014) 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 Lantern Forge and Core Keeper similar?
- They overlap on Indie, Adventure, RPG 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 Lantern Forge have multiplayer like Core Keeper?
- No. Core Keeper supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op), while Lantern Forge is listed as single-player only.