STEAMDB NEXUS

Steam app 2171630 · updated 12 Sep 2026, 21:02 UTC

Return from Core

Mine, build, and explore with Monster Girl companions in this underground sandbox adventure. Uncover lost tech, automate production, and forge bonds with allies as you fight to survive and journey back to the surface.

Return from Core Steam header artwork
顽核社 FuncoreClub2P Games, Shochiku
23playing now
3924-hour peak
1,896all-time peak
23average, last 30 days

The last 30 days

+11.3Gain+90.99%% gain69Peak

438 hourly samples, with the daily peak drawn over them. Weekends are shaded.

01937567513 Aug18 Aug23 Aug28 Aug02 Sep07 Sep12 SepThursday 13 August 20266 peakFriday 14 August 202622 peakSaturday 15 August 202616 peakSunday 16 August 202620 peakMonday 17 August 202621 peakTuesday 18 August 202617 peakWednesday 19 August 202612 peakThursday 20 August 202615 peakFriday 21 August 202615 peakSaturday 22 August 202616 peakSunday 23 August 202620 peakMonday 24 August 202618 peakTuesday 25 August 202620 peakWednesday 26 August 202618 peakThursday 27 August 202617 peakFriday 28 August 202619 peakSaturday 29 August 202628 peakSunday 30 August 202625 peakMonday 31 August 202615 peakTuesday 01 September 202633 peakWednesday 02 September 202643 peakThursday 03 September 202642 peakFriday 04 September 202645 peakSaturday 05 September 202668 peakSunday 06 September 202669 peakMonday 07 September 202664 peakTuesday 08 September 202650 peakWednesday 09 September 202640 peakThursday 10 September 202633 peakFriday 11 September 202629 peakSaturday 12 September 202639 peak
Daily peakEvery hourly sample

All time

34 months, December 2023 to September 2026. The highest number of people in the game at once, each month, on a time axis -- a gap in the record stays a gap.

05121k2k2kDec 2023May 2024Oct 2024Mar 2025Aug 2025Jan 2026Jun 2026December 20231,896 monthly peakJanuary 2024853 monthly peakFebruary 2024499 monthly peakMarch 2024140 monthly peakApril 202466 monthly peakMay 2024104 monthly peakJune 202473 monthly peakJuly 202472 monthly peakAugust 202438 monthly peakSeptember 202474 monthly peakOctober 202464 monthly peakNovember 202462 monthly peakDecember 2024167 monthly peakJanuary 202561 monthly peakFebruary 202558 monthly peakMarch 202539 monthly peakApril 202576 monthly peakMay 2025294 monthly peakJune 202589 monthly peakJuly 20251,352 monthly peakAugust 2025520 monthly peakSeptember 2025160 monthly peakOctober 2025120 monthly peakNovember 202589 monthly peakDecember 2025119 monthly peakJanuary 2026113 monthly peakFebruary 202675 monthly peakMarch 202651 monthly peakApril 202637 monthly peakMay 202655 monthly peakJune 202652 monthly peakJuly 202647 monthly peakAugust 202628 monthly peakSeptember 202669 monthly peak
Monthly peak

The last four months

Show:

The highest number of people in the game at once, each month. Four, because four is as far back as the source keeps anything finer than one figure a month.

019375675July 2026August 2026September 2026October 2026July 202647 peak — daily detail belowAugust 202628 peak — hourly detail belowSeptember 202669 peak — hourly detail below
Monthly peakHas finer data

July 2026

31 days, each one the highest figure that day. The source keeps no hourly detail this far back. Weekends are shaded.

01325385101 Jul06 Jul11 Jul16 Jul21 Jul26 Jul31 JulWednesday 01 July 202629 peakThursday 02 July 202629 peakFriday 03 July 202627 peakSaturday 04 July 202643 peakSunday 05 July 202647 peakMonday 06 July 202638 peakTuesday 07 July 202631 peakWednesday 08 July 202634 peakThursday 09 July 202634 peakFriday 10 July 202629 peakSaturday 11 July 202631 peakSunday 12 July 202631 peakMonday 13 July 202622 peakTuesday 14 July 202619 peakWednesday 15 July 202614 peakThursday 16 July 202612 peakFriday 17 July 202621 peakSaturday 18 July 202617 peakSunday 19 July 202622 peakMonday 20 July 202614 peakTuesday 21 July 202613 peakWednesday 22 July 202624 peakThursday 23 July 202616 peakFriday 24 July 202619 peakSaturday 25 July 202618 peakSunday 26 July 202624 peakMonday 27 July 202614 peakTuesday 28 July 202619 peakWednesday 29 July 202615 peakThursday 30 July 202611 peakFriday 31 July 202611 peak

August 2026

31 days as the curve, each the highest figure that day. Behind it, 169 hourly samples from 13 Aug, which is as far back as the source keeps every hour. Weekends are shaded.

0815233001 Aug06 Aug11 Aug16 Aug21 Aug26 Aug31 AugSaturday 01 August 202617 peakSunday 02 August 202626 peakMonday 03 August 202619 peakTuesday 04 August 202626 peakWednesday 05 August 202622 peakThursday 06 August 202618 peakFriday 07 August 202620 peakSaturday 08 August 202624 peakSunday 09 August 202626 peakMonday 10 August 202616 peakTuesday 11 August 202618 peakWednesday 12 August 202618 peakThursday 13 August 202618 peakFriday 14 August 202622 peakSaturday 15 August 202616 peakSunday 16 August 202620 peakMonday 17 August 202621 peakTuesday 18 August 202617 peakWednesday 19 August 202612 peakThursday 20 August 202615 peakFriday 21 August 202615 peakSaturday 22 August 202616 peakSunday 23 August 202620 peakMonday 24 August 202618 peakTuesday 25 August 202620 peakWednesday 26 August 202618 peakThursday 27 August 202617 peakFriday 28 August 202619 peakSaturday 29 August 202628 peakSunday 30 August 202625 peakMonday 31 August 202615 peak

September 2026

12 days as the curve, each the highest figure that day. Behind it, 269 hourly samples. Each dip is a night. Weekends are shaded.

01937567501 Sep03 Sep05 Sep07 Sep09 Sep11 SepTuesday 01 September 202633 peakWednesday 02 September 202643 peakThursday 03 September 202642 peakFriday 04 September 202645 peakSaturday 05 September 202668 peakSunday 06 September 202669 peakMonday 07 September 202664 peakTuesday 08 September 202650 peakWednesday 09 September 202640 peakThursday 10 September 202633 peakFriday 11 September 202629 peakSaturday 12 September 202639 peak

October 2026

Return from Core was released on 17 Jul, 2025.

Not out yet.There is nothing to draw for this month.
Nothing here is interpolated or estimated; where a sample is missing the line is broken.

Game information

Updated 12 Sep 2026, 21:02 UTC
App ID
2171630
Developer
顽核社 FuncoreClub
Publisher
2P Games, Shochiku
Release date
17 Jul, 2025
Platforms
Windows
Genres
Action, Adventure, Indie, RPG, Simulation
Game modes
Single-player
Controller support
Partial
Achievements
35

Features & support

Steam features

Steam AchievementsSteam Trading CardsSteam WorkshopSteam CloudFamily Sharing

Controllers & input

Partial Controller Support

Accessibility

Popular tags

AutomationSurvivalBase BuildingDating SimSandboxCraftingSingleplayerActionAdventureBuildingDungeon CrawlerExplorationMiningSimulationFarming SimRPGAction RPGCombatAction-AdventureCartoony
About this gameFull description from Steam
Feature Summary Mine endlessly – Swing your pickaxe or blast entire mineral veins for resources Explore a vast underground world – Discover secrets of humanity’s downfall Befriend Monster Girls – Gain allies with unique abilities for battle and life Build your base – Craft, decorate, and create a home underground Automate production – Unlock machines and logistics to accelerate progress Fight powerful enemies – Explore dangerous ruins and forgotten technologies Full Description After surface civilization's destruction, you're an underground survivor exploring a world of unknowns and dangers. Wield your pickaxe, explore ruins, befriend Monster Girls, build automated production lines, construct your base, and return to the surface! Grip your pickaxe and extract abundant underground resources. Chip away at rock walls or use powerful explosives to blast entire mineral veins - enjoy the satisfying destruction. Collect ores and rare materials to fuel construction, production, and equipment upgrades. Meet Monster Girls with unique abilities during your underground adventures. Each has distinct personalities, but earn their trust and they become powerful combat allies with special exploration skills. They also help at your base with farming, cooking, gathering, and production - boosting your survival efficiency. The vast underground hides countless secrets and dangers. From deep caverns to forgotten human ruins, fight alongside Monster Girls against powerful creatures, discover scattered lost technologies, and uncover the truth behind humanity's downfall. Start with just a pickaxe, but master lost technologies to create powerful machinery. Construct automated production and logistics systems to power the super drill and accelerate your surface return. In this sunless world, a comfortable, functional base ensures survival. Build workbenches, craft furniture, plan production and living areas, defend against underground creatures, and transform a crude cave into a warm home with your Monster Girl companions. Take up your pickaxe, join your Monster Girl companions, explore underground secrets, and become the first human to return to the surface!
Content & age ratings2 regional ratings

Regional ratings

DEJUSl
IGRS18Penampilan Tokoh · Rokok dan/atau rokok elektronik, minuman beralkohol, narkotika, psikotropika, dan/atau zat adiktif lainnya · Kekerasan
System requirementsMinimum and recommended hardware

Minimum

Minimum: Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system OS: Windows 10 64 bit Processor: Intel Core i3-3240 (2 * 3400); AMD FX-4300 (4 * 3800) Memory: 4 GB RAM Graphics: GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB DirectX: Version 11 Storage: 4 GB available space

Recommended

Recommended: Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system OS: Windows 10 64 bit Processor: Intel Core i5-3470 Memory: 16 GB RAM Graphics: GeForce GTX 1660 6GB DirectX: Version 11 Storage: 4 GB available space

macOS

Minimum: Recommended:

Linux

Minimum: Recommended:
Supported languages9 languages
LanguageFull audio
Simplified Chinese●
English
Japanese
Traditional Chinese
French
German
Spanish - Spain
Russian
Portuguese - Portugal

A blank audio cell means full audio was not marked in the returned language list.

Screenshots & trailersScreenshots and trailers

Trailers

AchievementsTotal count and selected achievements

35 achievements in total.

Show selected achievements (may contain spoilers)
Underground MinerAchievement
Empty WorldAchievement
Planting ExpertAchievement
Crazy FarmerAchievement
GourmandAchievement
Steady ProgressAchievement
Pitch BlackAchievement
StuckAchievement
Race Against TimeAchievement
Cough, Cough, CoughAchievement

View all Steam achievements

DemosPlayable demos on Steam

50 developer announcements, Nov 2024 to Jun 2026 · times in UTC

June

  1. 6/24 Minor Update

    Dear Explorers,We have deployed a hotfix to address the following issues:Fixed an issue where the third slot of the "Cooking Table" in Sandbox Mode had a chance of failing to unlock.Fixed an issue where certain keybinding settings could…

    Patch notes

September

  1. Minor Update V1.0.9

    Hey fellow adventurers!We've released a minor update addressing the following issues: Fixed an issue where the Item Selection and Field Guide screens would not unlock item slots properly in Sandbox Mode.

    Patch notes

August

  1. Medium Update V1.0.8

    Hey fellow adventurers! Greetings! We're excited to announce that version 1.0.8 is launching soon. This update brings several major optimizations and new features designed to make your underground adventures more flexible and enjoyable.…

    MISCHIEF
  2. Minor Update V1.0.7

    Hey fellow adventurers!We've released a minor update that improves and fixes the following issues: System Improvements:· Added custom keybinding options for "Interact 2 (C)" and "Interact 3 (V)" Bug Fixes:· Fixed an issue where Absorption…

    Patch notes

July

  1. Minor Update V1.0.5

    Hey fellow adventurers!We've released a minor update that improves and fixes the following issues: System Improvements:Ÿ Improved drone performance and efficiencyŸ Enhanced radial menu positioning accuracy when view distance is reducedŸ…

    Patch notes
  2. "Return from Core" Ecosystem Revealed! – Panorama View!

    Dear adventurers, Each level of the "Return from Core" boasts its own unique ecosystem. This time, we’ll take you on a journey through this subterranean odyssey. From the Dark Forest to the Swamp Depths, from shadowy caves to the wondrous…

    MISCHIEF
  3. Minor Update V1.0.4a

    Hey fellow adventurers!We've released a minor update that improves and fixes the following issues: \· Added view distance adjustment feature: Hold Ctrl + mouse wheel in-game, or fine-tune in the settings menu· Added new audio settings…

    Patch notes
  4. Minor Update V1.0.3

    Hey fellow adventurers!We've released a minor update addressing the following issues:· Fixed a rare issue where Backpack and Warehouse items could disappear unexpectedly· Fixed an issue where "Speaker" music would occasionally overlap with…

    Patch notes
  5. Return from Core - Workshop Now Live

    Hello there, fellow adventurers!This is a straightforward guide to help you create game mods, covering - Essential tool acquisition for Mod development, modifying monster girl art assets, replacing in-game appearances, adding or editing…

    MISCHIEF
  6. Minor Update V1.0.2

    Hey fellow adventurers,We've released a minor update addressing the following issues: · Fixed an issue where "Underground Vines" had a chance to grow abnormally.· Fixed an issue where the "Speed Up" talent had a chance to fail reaching…

    Patch notes
  7. Version 1.0 Official Update Road Map!

    Dear Explorers,"Return From Core" Version 1.0 is now officially released! In the coming weeks, we will continue gathering player feedback and optimizing the game to deliver an even better experience.Below is our planned update roadmap: We…

    MISCHIEF
  8. Minor Update V1.0.1

    Hey fellow adventurers!We've released a minor update addressing the following issues: · Fixed an issue where outline materials were missing for some mods.· Fixed an issue where crafting Charcoal could sometimes fail.· Fixed an issue where…

    Patch notes
  9. Play 1.0 Version Now

    Dear Explorers, The 1.0 full release has been released today, and it’s now available at a 30% discount for a limited time! The Steam Workshop for the game will go live alongside the official release, allowing players to customize character…

    MISCHIEF
  10. Small Update V0.6.0627

    Dear Explorers: We pushed a small update that optimized and fixed the following issues: \ Significantly optimized code performance; Fixed the issue of misaligned dialogue in certain cutscenes. Discord

    Patch notes

June

  1. Return from Core Launches July 18th!

    Fellow explorers,We're excited to reveal that Return from Core full release launches July 18th, 2025 on Steam! Join us for the ultimate underground odyssey! Core Level 8 takes you deep into fallen megacities from the Great Disaster. Beyond…

    MISCHIEF

May

  1. Small Update V0.5.0530

    Dear Explorers: We pushed a small update that optimized and fixed the following issues: -Fixed the issue where the bubble skill of had a probability of causing the character to get stuck; -Fixed the issue where some machines had a…

    Patch notes
  2. Small Update V0.5.0520

    Dear Explorers: We pushed a small update that optimized and fixed the following issues: -Fixed an issue where monster girl would occasionally lose items when carrying -Fixed an issue where the “Don't drop items when you die” talent did not…

    Patch notes
  3. Small Update V0.5.0520

    Dear Explorers: We pushed a small update that optimized and fixed the following issues: -Fixed an issue where monster girl would occasionally lose items when carrying -Fixed an issue where the “Don't drop items when you die” talent did not…

    Patch notes
  4. Small Update V0.5.0519

    Dear Explorers: We pushed a small update that optimized and fixed the following issues: -Items such as its exclusive Pick recipes, Rings and Bracelets can be purchased in the Monster Girl's Store; -Fixed the issue where equipment had a…

    Patch notes
  5. Small Update V0.5.0517

    Dear Explorers: We pushed a small update that optimized and fixed the following issues: -Fixed the issue that the main quest had a probability of not being completed; -Fixed the issue that the Conveyor Belt had a probability of stopping…

    Patch notes
  6. Small Update V0.5.0515

    Dear Explorers: We pushed a small update that optimized and fixed the following issues: -Fixed the issue that Lilith's avatar was incorrectly displayed in the favorability upgrade interface of ; -Fixed the issue that the fishing animation…

    Patch notes
  7. Minor Update V0.5.0514

    Dear Explorers: We pushed a minor update that optimized and fixed the following issues: · Expanded usage scenarios for "Water Pump", now supporting direct placement on the ground in the Core Level 7 · Improved transport AI for Monster Girls…

    落花离人泪
  8. Small Update V0.5.0513b

    Dear Explorers: We pushed a minor update that optimized and fixed the following issues: -Fixed a bug where monsters' damage buff values were abnormal. -Fixed the issue where the detector could not detect the boss of 7th floor. -Fixed an…

    MISCHIEF
  9. Major Update V0.6.0513 New Version Level 7 "The Deep Sea"

    In the vast undersea world, countless unknowns and mysteries waving an uncharted area. Ancient life and modern creatures coexist, what’s the story of monster girls from this level? Dear inner-earth explorers, we are excited to announce that…

    MISCHIEF
  10. Minor Update V0.5.0510

    Dear Explorers: We pushed a small update package that optimized and fixed the following issues: 【System Optimization】 Optimized the monster generation rules in the lair; Optimized the performance of the animation and lighting modules; 【BUG…

    落花离人泪
  11. Minor Update V0.5.0509

    Dear Explorers: We pushed a small update package that optimized and fixed the following issues: 【System Optimization】 ·The pickup adds the maximum number of grabs, and can freely adjust the number of items to be grabbed each time ·Optimized…

    MISCHIEF
  12. Minor Update V0.5.0508

    Hello Explorers! We've released a small update package that optimizes and fixes the following issues: · Fixed an issue where some generators would occasionally fail to function after placement · Fixed an issue where the main quest "The…

    MISCHIEF
  13. Small update V0.5.0507

    Dear explorer, We have pushed a small update package to optimize and fix the following issues: · Optimized the AI logic of monster girl's enemy search, and now it will give priority to attacking the target that is attacking the player ·…

    MISCHIEF
  14. Minor update V0.5.0506

    Dear explorer, Hello, explorers, we have pushed a small update package to optimize and fix the following issues: ·Optimized the performance of the conveyor belt; ·Optimized the collision box size of crops to avoid hindering players'…

    MISCHIEF
  15. Minor update V0.5.0505

    Dear explorer, Hello, explorers, we have pushed a small update package to optimize and fix the following issues: ·Added Beehive and Moth Swarm to the nest outside the Sticky Village on the sixth floor; ·Fixed the problem that the boss nest…

    MISCHIEF
  16. Minor update V0.5.0502

    Dear explorer, Hello, explorers, we have pushed a small update package to optimize and fix the following issues: Increased the damage coefficient of the hot floor; Reduced the number of materials required for the early upgrade of monster…

    落花离人泪

April

  1. Minor update V0.5.0430

    Dear explorer, Hello, explorers, we have pushed a small update package to optimize and fix the following issues: 1. Optimized the logic of selecting seeds when Monster Girls are farming; 2. Optimized the logic of entering and exiting…

    MISCHIEF
  2. Minor update V0.5.0429

    Dear explorer, Here is the list of changing in latest update: 1. Fixed the problem that the main task of the third layer of the earth's core may not be triggered; 2. Fixed the problem that the main task will create repeated ground marks; 3.…

    MISCHIEF
  3. Minor update V0.5.0428

    Dear explorer, Here is the list of changing in latest update: Optimized Cabin experience for existing game save by new Camp Warehouse. Fixed a bug where Ores won't be consumed by Furnace when playing as Engineer. Fixed a bug where monster…

    MISCHIEF
  4. Return from Core - Game Update Announcement

    Dear explorer, Development for Level 7 is mostly finished, and we're currently in the final stages of testing and optimization, striving to deliver the best possible exploration experience for you all! We're planning to release the major…

    MISCHIEF

March

  1. The 7th Level is Coming Soon!

    Dear explorers: After months of development, the seventh level for “Return from Core" is now basically complete. We are already conducting final testing and tuning work, and we believe that it will officially release soon. Since the…

    Patch notes

February

  1. Minor update V0.4.2.0226

    Hello, inner-earth explorers! Here is the list of changing in latest update: ·Optimized the design for getting out of bed; ·Optimized the crafting materials for the to reduce the crafting difficulty; ·Optimized the layer display order of…

    Patch notes
  2. Minor update V0.4.2.0215

    Hello adventures, we have pushed a minor update package to fix the following bugs: ·Fixed the bug where some quest items couldn't be submitted; ·Fixed the bug with abnormal material counts displayed when using items from nearby storage at…

    Patch notes

January

  1. Happy Chinese New Year! Special Update V0.4.1.0124

    Happy Chinese New Year, inner earth adventurers! As firecrackers bid farewell to the old year and snow foretells a bountiful harvest, we extend our heartfelt gratitude and warmest wishes to all the explorers who have accompanied Journey…

    MISCHIEF
  2. Minor Update V0.3.1.0107

    Hello, inner earth adventurers! We have released a small update that brings you following improvements: Fixed a bug that may prevent entering the game caused by incorrect data of items.

    MISCHIEF
  3. Small Update V0.2.1.1231 Special Items

    Hello, inner earth adventurers! We have released a small update that brings you new year limited items! Fireworks: Welcome the arrival of the new year amidst the dazzling fireworks! New Year limited items added: 3 Fireworks in Happy New…

    MISCHIEF

December

  1. Christmas Special Update V0.2.1.1224

    Hello Inner Earth’s Creatures! Merry Christmas! TanXun Studio and 2P Games extends our sincerest thanks and best wishes to every adventurer who has accompanied us on this journey. Your enthusiasm and support have ignited our creative flame…

    飞鸟喵
  2. Minor Update V0.2.1.1218

    Hello, inner earth adventurers! We have released a minor update that brings you following improvements: 1. Fixed the bug where the Delivery Station could occasionally cause the game progress to freeze; 2. Fixed the bug where the Delivery…

    MISCHIEF
  3. Minor Update V0.2.1.1217

    Hello Inner Earth’s Creatures!Here is the list of changing in latest update: Fixed a bug where Ganerator can not be removed after placing on Level 2 Fixed a bug where items will dissapear when transport between levels Fixed a bug where game…

    MISCHIEF
  4. Minor Update V0.2.1.1213

    Hello Inner Earth’s Creatures!Here is the list of changing in latest update: Fixed a bug where Lilith will disappear. Fixed a bug where numbers of damage will be displayed wrongly. Increase the numbers of Gear for Fixing in sale.

    MISCHIEF
  5. Minor Update V0.2.1.1211

    Hello Inner Earth’s Creatures!Here is the list of changing in latest update: 1. Fixed a bug where productions from Hive and Silkworm Box could not be taken away 2. Fixed a bug where Expanded Backpack can not hold dropped items

    MISCHIEF
  6. Minor Update V0.2.1.1210b

    Hello, adventurers! We have pushed a small update package that fixes the following bugs: 1. Fixed a bug where some players would get stuck on the loading screen after entering the game; 2. Fixed a bug where machines like Delivery Terminal…

    MISCHIEF
  7. Minor Update V0.2.1.1206

    Hello, adventurers! We have pushed a small update package that fixes the following issues: 1. Fixed the bug where the bomb talent tree could occasionally produce errors; 2. Fixed the bug where using tools like the Surveyor would cause…

    MISCHIEF
  8. Major Update (November)

    Hello Inner Earth’s Creatures! Here is the list of changing in latest update: It is important to note that in this update, we have added a world save feature. Character data will be separated from world data, allowing characters to enter…

    MISCHIEF

November

  1. About Upcoming Major Update

    Hello Inner Earth’s Creatures! In the past two months, thanks to the assistance of all players, we have fixed many issues in the game and updated some content to optimize the gaming experience. Subsequently, we have devoted more energy to…

    MISCHIEF

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