Coal Duty Brings Co-op Mining Horror to Steam Early Access

Coal Duty, a cooperative mining horror game developed by Corecrew Games and published by indie.io, officially launched into Steam Early Access on October 27, 2026. Combining survival horror, resource collection, and dark humor, the game supports up to five players working together to meet dangerous mining quotas while searching for a way to escape an oppressive government.

Survive Dangerous Mines and Meet the State's Coal Quotas

Set in a frozen dystopian world where darkness has consumed the sky, Coal Duty places players in the boots of miners forced to work under an authoritarian State. Their primary responsibility is to collect enough coal to satisfy demanding production quotas. However, each expedition becomes increasingly dangerous as players encounter hostile creatures, environmental hazards, and unpredictable underground threats.

Teamwork plays an important role in surviving these expeditions. Players must explore procedurally generated mines, gather valuable resources, and transport coal back to safety. Successful runs reward players with tickets that can be spent on equipment and upgrades, improving their chances of surviving future shifts.

Early Access Features and Future Updates

At launch, Coal Duty features three mine difficulty levels, multiple underground biomes, dozens of creatures, and a persistent hub containing shops and other activities. Beyond completing daily quotas, players can secretly gather materials to construct an escape machine, with two different endings available in the Early Access version.

The developers estimate that reaching the first ending takes approximately five hours, while additional challenges and progression provide further replayability. Future updates are expected to introduce more creatures, environments, equipment, and escape options as development continues.

With its combination of cooperative survival, mining mechanics, and unpredictable horror encounters, Coal Duty may appeal to fans of Lethal Company, R.E.P.O., and Deep Rock Galactic. Players interested in this unusual mining adventure can check out our comparison website to compare the best available offers for Coal Duty.