InCore Keeper, the cooperative survival and crafting game developed by Pugstorm, every character starts with a background. These backgrounds cover many of the activities you’ll undergo in the winding caverns you now call home.
As Core Keeper is playable with up to eight consecutive players, you can either focus on specializing your character with the bonuses each background confers or use them as a jumping off point to develop a character well rounded at all activities. Whatever your taste, there are bound to be at least a few backgrounds that appeal to you and the type of character you want to make.
10Fisherman
+3 Fishing Skill
It’s only a matter of time before you run into an underground lake in Core Keeper, and choosingthe fisherman backgroundwill allow you to make the most of this valuable resource. Lakes can be a consistent source of food, and this background comes with the equipment needed to get started fishing.
Secondary to this is the ability to find loot, and different areas of the caverns willsupply different rewards, so exploration is key to making the most of this background.
9Chef
+3 Cooking Skill
If you give a man a fish, he will eat for a day. But if you teach a man to fish, he won’t have to eat raw fish. The chef background specializes in, you guessed it, cooking. With this background you’ll have a head start on transforming the various ingredient you’ll find throughout your adventure into nutritious and delicious meals.
Getting the most out of your available resources is an efficient way to remain ahead of the game, not to mention a tasty one.
8Explorer
+3 Running Skill
No matter what type of character you’re looking to play, exploration is almost always one of the key components of the gameplay loop in Core Keeper. Characters of all types and background will eventually need to venture out into the caverns for supplies, or just for the thrill of discovery.
The addition of a small lantern makes a handy tool for this background, albeit one that quickly becomes less useful as further resources are discovered. For first time players, this background is not a bad choice.
7Nomad
No Skill
The nomad background is, as the description says, a completely ordinary person. They start with no gear or any advanced progress any of the skills. While this may initially seem like a downside compared to the more immediately useful backgrounds, returning players may find the freedom this background offers to be a boon.
For experienced players or those who are looking for a challenge, the nomad background offers both in equal measure. Starting with nothing can be liberating in its own way.
6Ranger
+3 Range Combat Skill
The ability to fight foes from a distance is what the ranger excels at. Keeping them at a distance and allowing you to attack from safety ensures the longevity of your character, and can make quick work of threats that would otherwise have to be dealt with up close and personal.
In the often cramped caverns of Core Keeper, this distinction can mean the difference between success and failure. Positioning is key to making the most of this play style, making it an attractive choice for those well aware of their surroundings.
5Warlock
+3 Summoning Skill
For slightly more advanced players, the warlock background can be an appealing choice. Why bother fighting your own battles when you’re able to simply summon your minions to do it for you? These are skills that don’t come into play until further on in the game, meaning that newcomers might be better off choosing more of the simpler and more immediately useful backgrounds.
If that doesn’t deter you, the warlock can be a very unique way to experience the world of Core Keeper.
4Gardener
+3 Gardening Skill
Along with fighting and exploring, resource management is one of the central pillars of Core Keeper. Choosing the gardening background can alleviate that greatly. Gardening will most likely be one of yourmain sources of food, making this an immensely useful background to start with.
This will appeal to more laid back players, or those in multiplayer sessions where others can take up the task of defending or venturing out into the caverns. In this way, many of the backgrounds are complementary to one another.
3Mage
+3 Magic Skill
Embrace the mystical arts and unlock their secrets with this background. The mage is a background that, in the hands of more experiences players, can offer immense power. Mana is consumed to cast spells, devastating foes at a rate that’s second to none.
First time players may find their needs more readily met with the backgrounds that offer help with the more mundane tasks the game has to offer, but for those looking to dish out large quantities of damage the mage can be an enticing option.
2Fighter
+3 Melee Skill
The fighter is yourbread and butter combat focusedbackground. There’s always something to fight in Core Keeper, whether you’re seeking it out or merely defending what you’ve built. In either event, the fighter is a solid, basic option that never goes out of style.
It may not be as fancy as some of the other backgrounds, but it can almost always get the job done and leave enough time for some of the more relaxing tasks the game has on offer.
1Miner
+3 Mining Skill
At the end of the day, everything comes down to mining. You’ll mine to explore, mine for resources, and mine when building a base. No matter what your task in Core Keeper, mining is almost always sure to be a part of it in some small part.
Mining allows you to shape your surroundings in ways that few others skills can, and serves as the bedrock that almost the entire game rests on. Mining in Core Keeper can be a relaxing experience, like many of the games that have come before it.
