Bore

Bore is a survival horror game for one to four players. You operate a giant drilling machine, explore underground caves for valuables and sell enough of what you collect to meet your employer’s required payment. Play alone or cooperate online, managing the drill from its cabin while teammates search the caves.

The drilling machine

Use the machine’s physical levers, controls and instruments to steer the drill, set its speed, monitor its temperature and load coolant cartridges. The cabin map and instruments help you guide teammates exploring outside, while the Core Recovery station collects extra valuables from material cut by the drill. When playing alone, automatic speed control helps you operate the machine.

The machine is also your refuge. When you return from exploring, bring your valuables inside and close the door to keep pursuing creatures out. You can then choose to return to the surface and sell your haul or continue drilling deeper in search of more valuable treasure. Equipment and valuables inside the machine remain aboard as it travels.

Explore the caves

Explore four underground regions: Overgrown Caves, Crystal Caves, Lava Caves and Deep Dark Caves. Cave layouts change, and the longer you stay underground, the more dangerous the caves become. Search deposits for minerals, relics and other valuables, mining them with a pickaxe or explosives, then carry what you find back to the drill. Return before the cave collapses.

The caves contain 28 types of creatures with different behaviors. Some hunt by sound, some react to light, and some imitate your crewmates’ appearance or voices. Creatures can notice footsteps, mining and voices, so you can use lights and distractions to avoid some threats. Defend yourself against others with tools or stun devices; different creatures require different tactics, and some cannot be killed.

Sell and prepare

At the surface depot, sell valuables to make the required payment and buy supplies. The payment increases as you progress. The shop offers 33 equipment and upgrade options, including lights, mining tools, radios and implants that improve your abilities. Better drill bits unlock deeper regions, and dead creatures can also be brought back to sell. Between trips, restock supplies and feed or pet the depot cat.

There are 46 types of valuables to collect and sell, including eight obtained through Core Recovery. Selling a type for the first time adds information about it to your collection record.

Co-op and daily digs

Online co-op supports up to four players, with voice chat that depends on distance. Use walkie-talkies or the cabin speaker to communicate with players farther away. You can carry heavy valuables together, throw tools and other objects, and drag bodies; items and characters react to impacts, falls and collisions.

Revive crewmates who are dying before time runs out, or recover dead crewmates’ bodies and bring them back to the depot. If you die, you can watch the surviving players. The Daily Dig offers changing cave layouts and leaderboards based on the value you sell, with separate groups for each crew size.