Dive deep-literally-as Return From Core surfaces with its most ambitious update yet. With the Level 7 Major Update, 2P Games and Tanxun Studio throw open the doors (and floodgates) to an eerie, waterlogged world beneath the earth. This marks the last major expansion before the sandbox survival RPG’s 1.0 release on Steam, and it’s packed with both high-pressure danger and new hope for explorers eager to break through to the surface.
Whether you’re a diehard spelunker or just hearing about the game, this update is more than just a fresh coat of paint. It injects new mechanics like oxygen and pressure management, unveils long-awaited story beats, and expands your arsenal with aquatic gear and even fish farming. Plus, if you’re quick, you can snag the game at a 25% discount before May 20th.
Key Takeaways
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Publisher | 2P Games |
| Release Date | TBA (1.0 upcoming; Level 7 Update live May 13, 2025) |
| Genres | Sandbox, Survival RPG, Farming, Crafting, Automation |
| Platforms | PC (Steam) |
Return From Core’s latest chapter, Level 7, doesn’t just up the ante—it rewrites the rules. Once you break through solid rock, you’ll find yourself treading water in a forbidding abyss. Here, survival is dictated by your oxygen supply and the crushing pressure of the deep, introducing a tension reminiscent of Subnautica, but filtered through the game’s distinct mining-and-crafting loop. The underwater environment isn’t just for show: it leads players to the source of the toxic fog that haunted previous levels, inching ever closer to the mystery at the story’s heart.
Surviving here means adapting. The update introduces a suite of gear and technologies built for aquatic life: new diving suits, pressure-resistant equipment, and even the ability to farm fish—a first for the game. This builds on Return From Core’s familiar rhythm of mining, farming, and automation, but with a literal breath of fresh air (or lack thereof). It’s a smart way to escalate challenge, requiring players to rethink their usual approach and prepare for a far less forgiving biome.
Alongside the gameplay shakeups, Level 7 expands the game’s narrative, finally revealing clues to humanity’s forced underground exile. The mysterious monster girl companions—one of Return From Core’s more distinctive features—return with new dialogue and backstory that deepen the player’s connection to both the world and their quirky crew.
Return From Core has always worn its Core Keeper influence on its sleeve—top-down mining, procedural caves, and automation, but with a heavier emphasis on narrative and quirky character interactions. With Level 7, it carves out more identity, both in mechanical ambition and atmospheric world-building. The final update sets the stage for a climactic 1.0 launch, showing Tanxun Studio’s willingness to iterate and expand even as they approach the finish line.
Is the new biome enough to lure back lapsed players and win over newcomers? The oxygen and pressure mechanics certainly add a fresh twist, but as always, the real test will be how these features blend into Return From Core’s signature gameplay mix. With the 1.0 release looming, Tanxun Studio is betting big that their community is ready to break the surface—and that this final update is the hook they need.
TL;DR: Return From Core’s Level 7 Major Update submerges players in a challenging underwater world, with new survival mechanics, expanded story, and aquatic tech. This marks the last big patch before its 1.0 Steam release, and it’s available at 25% off until May 20th.
Source: 2P Games via GamesPress