head to head

Core Keeper cover artvsStarbound cover art

Core KeepervsStarbound

Core Keeper leans Optimization (Systems & Chaos); Starbound leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).

EXECUTION3 /10READS0 /10VARIANCE5 /10OPTIMIZATION7 /10
Core KeeperStarbound

Axis by axis

Execution3 vs 3

Even - both lean on execution about the same.

Reads0 vs 0

Even - both lean on reads about the same.

Variance5 vs 4

Core Keeper leans harder on variance: World seed, ore placement, and loot drops are randomised

Optimization7 vs 7

Even - both lean on optimization about the same.

Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.

full breakdown

Core Keeper

full breakdown

Starbound