Breakwaters: Crystal Tides vs Return from Core
Which one is worth buying now, with today's prices and each game's recommendation.
Return from Core wins 11 of 12 head-to-head metrics. Return from Core is $14.93 cheaper.
Metric by metric
The winner of each row gets a ✓. No row weighs more than another; the recommendation is calculated separately.
| Metric | Breakwaters: Crystal Tides | Return from Core |
|---|---|---|
| GameValio scoreRecommendation: Wait for Sale × Wait for Sale | 48 | 53 |
| Quality | 54 | 62 |
| Value | 40 | 64 |
| Popularity | 47 | 26 |
| Current Best Price (USD) | N/A | $5.06 |
| Steam Review Score | 63.3% positive | 75% positive |
| Average Concurrent Players (14 days) | 0 | 9 |
Where to buy
The 3 cheapest stores for each game
Breakwaters: Crystal Tides
Side by side over time
Breakwaters: Crystal TidesReturn from Core
Details and requirements
| Item | Breakwaters: Crystal Tides | Return from Core |
|---|---|---|
| Release date | December 9, 2021 | July 17, 2025 |
| Developers | Soaring Pixels Games | 顽核社 Funcore Club |
| Publishers | Soaring Pixels Games | 2P Games, Shochiku |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| OS (minimum) | win10 or newer | Windows 10 64 bit |
| Processor (minimum) | 3.1ghz+ 6+ cores, Faster is better | Intel Core i5-3470 |
| Memory (minimum) | 16 GB RAM | 16 GB RAM |
| Graphics (minimum) | Geforce 2070 / 5700XT or better | GeForce GTX 1660 6GB |
| Storage (minimum) | 4 GB available space | 4 GB available space |
| Additional Notes (minimum) | Win7 is not currently supported due to OS compatability issues | — |
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: Breakwaters: Crystal Tides or Return from Core?
Return from Core won the comparison against Breakwaters: Crystal Tides based on the head-to-head metric breakdown. Check the metrics table above for a full side-by-side analysis.
How is the comparison calculated?
The comparison winner is determined objectively by counting which game wins more individual metrics in the head-to-head table. No weighting is applied. The GameValio Recommendation shown separately is our own suggestion for each game, based on a weighted score that combines quality (reviews), popularity (player counts), and affordability (price vs value) into a score out of 100. These are two different things: the comparison is objective, the recommendation is GameValio's opinion.
Is Breakwaters: Crystal Tides worth buying over Return from Core?
Based on the metrics, Return from Core won the direct comparison. However, also check the GameValio Recommendation for each game and the price comparison table to make the most informed purchase decision.
Which game has better player reviews?
Review score trends and volume over time are shown in the charts section above. The game with consistently higher positive ratios has stronger community reception.
Which game offers better value for money?
The affordability score and price comparison table above highlight the best deals. Return from Core currently scores better on value relative to its quality and price.
Related comparisons
Analysis updated: Oct 24, 2026, 03:20 PM UTC