To The Core is an incremental game about extracting and using resources from planets to buy upgrades.
The game draws players in with its core loop of drilling into planets, extracting resources, and using those resources to upgrade your mining ship. As you progress, you can upgrade your drill's durability, fuel capacity, and damage output, as well as unlock powerful tools like grenades, drones, and orbital lasers. Witnessing your humble mining vessel transform into a planet-destroying behemoth is incredibly satisfying.
Each new upgrade you purchase feels impactful, allowing you to dig deeper and more efficiently. Progression is consistently rewarding, with players consistently expressing amazement at how their capabilities evolve over time. The game's varied upgrade system ensures there is always something new to work towards.
The procedurally generated planets offer a wide variety of environments to explore, from icy tundras to gleaming metallic worlds. Each planet presents its own unique resources and challenges, keeping the gameplay fresh as you venture deeper into the solar system.
As you advance, the scale of the destruction you can unleash becomes truly epic. What starts as a modest mining operation transforms into you annihilating entire planets with a barrage of explosions, debris, and countless resources pouring in. Reviewers consistently praise this sense of escalating power and impact.
The game's progression curve is described as well-designed, providing a smooth and satisfying experience. Players don't feel overly gated or stuck, as each new upgrade helps propel them forward. The balance between challenge and reward keeps players motivated to continue their interplanetary mining expedition.