Surviving Mars

A great game that has aged very poorly. Half the game achievements are locked behind dlc that don't work and the modding community is slowly dying. Not to mention colonists (especially tourists) are a buggy mess once your population goes above 150. Most progress is made by patiently watching your colony expand over the span of dozens of hours, which makes game play feel boring, repetitive and tedious. "natural" disaster are seemingly unnatural whether it's a asteroid storm conveniently hitting all your life support, or its dust storms following your rovers around the martian landscape. The game is designed to be long and tedious which makes it even more agonising when you watch your colony fall apart in seconds. Thankfully there's the quick save feature but you'll probably have to redo several hours of gameplay to save your colony. The game doesn't even scratch an itch either. There are other games such as Plan B, Planet Crafter, or 'terraforming mars' that are substantially more stable and less tedious while being half the price and more fun.

A chill game that frustrates you when you least expect. Regardless you get addicted to expand your colony and play through the story. When you get tired of the game mechanics, you can always change difficulty and other settings for your next colony, making the game dynamics completely different. So you need to adapt fast and pick the best strategy. There is still one annoying bug that isnt fixed besides being reported for some years... "Tourists overstaying" without any reason.... like per 100 tourists, only like 10 leave the colony. Its very anying and sadly, using tourists as a strategy is not worth it....

Look, it's just so much fun. I've put so many hours into this game, absolutely worth it if you're a fan of city builders.

Surviving Mars can be highly addictive. It's one of those games that can become meditative, as it allows you to just work through challenges - almost without thinking. It has the right level of difficulty, and a ton of replay value.

Great game. Lots of replay value. Great expansions. The only one I would say is a semi-safe skip is Below and Beyond, it's really secondary unless you fully embrace it early in the play through. Green Mars is a must.

Surviving Mars is a Gem! I absolutely love this game. Playing in hard difficulties has such a great mix of challenge, strategy and fun that is rarely seen in any other game. I love how the environment of the game kind of teletransports me to Mars. I also love playing it with some Interstellar sound tracks. Makes it so cool. Go ahead and buy the Green Planet DLC sou you'll have a more solid objective.

the game is good, but it feels a little boring without DLC's. 8\10

This is a good city builder that will often challenge your planning and critical thinking skills. However I am not too keen on the obtuse and clunky colonist management system; Its a bother at best and a nightmare at worst. 7/10

This game takes you literary from step 1 of colonizing mars with simple probes to terraforming with humans and does it in a very intricate and delicate way - amazing for my taste! - 5* for enjoyment!

It would be great if we could fill up the ditches with water to make lakes

Didn't really like it. Seemed to have too much going on for my taste. Would be nice to have something basic and then expand on.

A perfect mixture of realism and not being over complicated, you could certainly learn a few things playing this about sustainability and resource management that will take place during space colonization. This game reminds of my time living off the grid and balancing power loads vs battery storage so it gives me some fond memories.

A nice little gem but I simply don't have the time to play at the moment.

Surviving Mars, developed by Haemimont Games and published by Paradox Interactive, is a rich, challenging, and deeply atmospheric city-building simulation that takes humanity’s classic dream of Martian colonization and turns it into a complex test of planning, resource management, and long-term survival. Released in 2018 and continually supported through updates and DLCs, the game has carved out a strong identity for itself within the genre, combining the rigor of logistical strategy with the speculative optimism of sci-fi. At its core, Surviving Mars tasks players with building and maintaining a self-sufficient colony on the red planet. It starts with the selection of a sponsoring organization, each providing different strengths and starting bonuses—some offer scientific advantages, others more funding or political influence. You also choose a landing site on Mars with unique geographical features, climate, and resource distributions. These early decisions are crucial and help define the difficulty and direction of the game. The game offers a variety of settings that allow players to tailor the experience to their preferred balance of realism and challenge, and its modular systems ensure that no two playthroughs feel identical. The game begins with robotic drones laying the groundwork: mining resources, building infrastructure, and preparing the planet for human arrival. Water, oxygen, and electricity are essential, and everything must be generated, stored, and distributed through interconnected systems that can fail spectacularly if neglected. Once you’re ready to bring humans into the colony, the real balancing act begins. Colonists come with needs, traits, and specializations; keeping them alive, happy, and productive requires homes, food, health services, recreational facilities, and a functioning economy. Failing to meet their needs can lead to breakdowns in morale, productivity, or even deadly accidents. One of the strongest aspects of Surviving Mars is how it embraces the theme of survival through scarcity and uncertainty. Dust storms, cold snaps, meteor showers, and other Martian disasters can cripple infrastructure in seconds, especially if you’ve expanded too fast or neglected backups. There’s a palpable tension in how the game balances growth and fragility—you’re always on the edge, always one misstep away from a cascading failure. Yet the game rarely feels unfair. It communicates systems clearly, encourages redundancy and foresight, and rewards methodical planning. When things go wrong, it's usually because of a risk you took or a system you pushed too far. Visually, the game presents a striking and desolate Martian landscape, with brilliant red canyons, swirling dust storms, and slowly growing colonies that light up the terrain with glowing domes and blinking machinery. The aesthetic walks the line between sterile sci-fi realism and visual accessibility. Watching your colony evolve from a single rocket and a few drones to a bustling dome network with greenhouses, research labs, and leisure centers is deeply satisfying. The interface, while dense at first, becomes intuitive with time, especially once you grasp the underlying logic of the systems. The soundtrack is another highlight, offering a mix of ambient Martian tones and thematic radio stations. Each radio station brings its own flavor—whether it's classic space-themed tunes, jazzy soundscapes, or tongue-in-cheek commentary from fictional DJs—and adds to the immersion without being intrusive. Combined with the audio design, which features subtle environmental cues and mechanical feedback, the game creates a powerful sense of place. The research system adds a strong sense of progression, offering technological upgrades that can dramatically shift your strategy. Innovations like autonomous drones, improved life support systems, or more efficient energy production often arrive just in time to solve emerging crises—or open new possibilities for expansion. There are also narrative "Mysteries," which introduce semi-scripted story arcs into your colony: alien artifacts, rogue AI, plagues, or corporate espionage. These events range from eerie to thrilling, and add meaningful variety to extended playthroughs. However, Surviving Mars isn’t without weaknesses. The learning curve can be steep, particularly for players unfamiliar with city-builders or Paradox’s more granular design style. The early game is slow by design, emphasizing preparation and caution, but this pacing can feel plodding to those expecting faster progress or more dramatic early-game stakes. Additionally, colonist AI and behavior can sometimes be frustratingly opaque—mismanaged workers or weird task prioritization can throw a wrench in your best-laid plans. While some of this adds to the realism of managing imperfect humans, it can occasionally feel like you're fighting the interface rather than making meaningful choices. Post-launch support and DLC have significantly enhanced the game. Expansions like Green Planet introduce terraforming, letting players gradually convert the Martian surface into a habitable world with forests, grasslands, and breathable air. Others, like Below and Beyond, expand underground and asteroid-based colonization, further deepening the late game. Modding support is strong as well, with a robust community contributing new content, fixes, and enhancements that extend the game’s longevity and flexibility. In conclusion, Surviving Mars is a standout entry in the city-building genre—not just for its sci-fi setting, but for its thoughtful and demanding design. It captures the daunting challenge of extraterrestrial colonization with elegant systems, layered decision-making, and an enduring sense of atmosphere. It’s a game that rewards patience, critical thinking, and long-term vision, offering a deeply satisfying journey from isolation and scarcity to prosperity and possibility. For strategy enthusiasts and science fiction fans alike, Surviving Mars is an ambitious, engaging, and richly rewarding experience. Rating: 8/10

One of the better colony builder and resource management games around, even so many years after its release. Good for playing with minimal thought necessary, to just enjoy the look of a futuristic city going about its business. The end game scenarios are really fascinating, and I think they are the best part of the game.

Fun and creative problem solving. It's a shame that the DLC wasn't as consistent.

A bit too much sand but still fun regardless

Great Realistic feel from a commander point of view!

Awesome Game, it let's your imagination soar beyond the Stars!!!

be careful, its crack

Challenging and fun

space city builder make brain go brrrrrrrr

the game is okay

game is ok

good game

good :)

Good gam

i love it

elon musk wet dream

koo