OVERVIEW (A Walk Through The Universe)
Just bought this last night and dove right in, as ever since buying a VR system a couple of months ago I have wanted a “space exploration” simulator experience. I came across “Overview” by accident as I was looking for inexpensive VR games. I was a bit nervous about the purchase, given the mixed reviews, but it was on sale ($5) and so I figured the risk-to-reward ratio was acceptable.
Happily, I can report that I love “Overview.” Certainly there are some options I would love to see added, but for what this game is and has now, I think it is amazing. The flyover Saturn alone was worth the purchase, in my opinion.
– Real player with 3.1 hrs in game
Read More: Best Mars Education Games.
I am reposting this from a review I wrote on Reddit last week: I saw the the title of Overview in the Steam Store and added it to my wish list a few weeks back. Most people may have heard about the overview effect that astronauts all share when they look down at the earth from so far away and it makes them realize how small we are in the grand scheme of things. So. when it was on sale recently I grabbed it and was excited to try it.
It’s basically a single sequence that lasts about 30 minutes with another explore our solar system feature as well (which is good but underwhelming if I’m honest). The sequence is the star of the show but it too starts s bit slow. At first I found myself a bit disappointed- sure the graphics were gorgeous but it just wasn’t thrilling to me-I wanted the earth to be bigger in my perspective. I was missing the point I suppose!
– Real player with 2.7 hrs in game
Utopia Colony
First of all it’s a game you play once and never again. Simply because once you complete your mission you win and game ends. It can be done in a w/end.
Game is interesting, it has a huge map you can walk or drive but going from one place to another takes time!
Graphics are not great but decent, there are several bases you can explore and complete some task for credits.
Your main source of credits are minerals can find around, collect and sell for credits. You upgrade your suit with more oxygen capacity, and as you progress you buy rovers, you expand your base and build several buildings like greenhouse which provides food.
– Real player with 15.4 hrs in game
Read More: Best Mars Post-apocalyptic Games.
Loving this game so far. Love the desolate atmospheric surroundings, and very impressed with my base as it grows. Currently hitting a bit of a brick wall as I need credits to complete the research tasks, but can’t find enough resources to collect, and haven’t figured out how to get my water extractor to work, so having to buy lots of water, cancelling out the credits I earn for any ore do I find on my trips out. I’ve built my greenhouses, and looking forward to when things start go grow. I’ve lost 8 hours straight on my first play, so I really need to go and make my lunch now. Thanks, great game.
– Real player with 14.5 hrs in game
Terraformers: First Steps on Mars
Interesting theme, the graphics are simple but cool, the music is nice, it does run on GNU/Linux, but after eight hours of repetitive play, I wouldn’t call this a civ strategy kind of game, but more like a deck building card game, with lots of randomness, which gets you nowhere. You just need to be lucky to get the right cards at the right time for the right random spots to get a better score. No matter how good your planning is, there is too much luck involved. Maybe the 30 days span of a gameplay is too short for seeing the bigger picture, this is just a demo after all, but that’s my take on the current game. I do wish the devs good luck and I hope the final game offers a better experience.
– Real player with 8.8 hrs in game
Read More: Best Mars Atmospheric Games.
A pretty solid board game
Game is very reminiscent of the popular board game Terraforming Mars, with some slight changes.
-
Your starting hand is always the same 2 cards
-
Beyond Oxygen, H2O and Temperature, there’s a nebulous “atmosphere” terraform setting
-
Ever 10 years you select a leader, who has special abilities and traits that can be used on your turn
-
Pop happiness is measured and scored.
Overall its fun for a few play throughs, but with the same 6 leaders, same starting hand, and hard 30 turn limit, you’ll only have fun for a bit.
– Real player with 4.1 hrs in game
Waking Mars
Platform games aren’t at the top of my list - mainly because of their limited world, low replayability and (many of them) being highly linear - however, Waking Mars is one of the most enjoyable games I’ve been playing lately, and for me, one of the best platform games to date. Its sci-fi/ Mars setting and artwork caught my attention; but it was the goal of creating and encouraging an ecosystem within the Red Planet that sold me on it.
The story is simple and straightforward, but it is intelligently executed and really intriguing. Character development is little, but just right. There are no enemies, only yourself, the ‘flauna’ and the environment - but you might be surprised at just how much of a threat you can pose to yourself. The goals are laid out before you in a no-nonsense manner: you are exploring, searching, gathering, manipulating, creating, and de-constructing to create, in a more favourable way to the environment’s (and your) needs. There is something to be said for balance, and you learn by trial and error; but don’t worry, there is nothing that you can’t undo - though it may require a measure of patience.
– Real player with 18.5 hrs in game
Hard science fiction is a rare guest in video games. Not having any evil aliens or cool laser-shooting guns isn’t a good premise for dynamic action. Luckily, Waking Mars isn’t actually aiming at cheap thrills or fast-paced shooting, but rather prefers to be a meditative journey and succeeds at it.
The year is 2093, player takes the role of Liang, chinese astronaut, taking part in international planetary mission to Mars, studying life that was discovered in an underground cavern system. If the thought of some green evil aliens pointing their death-ray guns had crossed your mind at this point, shoo it away. Or maybe you’ve thought of some ancient ruins, secure vaults,containing secrets of advanced precursors? You’re wrong again. Life that has been discovered is rather primitive. It is a strange kind of hybrid between plants and animals. It’s called Zoa. Not much is known about these species; you will be the first and only human to make contact with it and observe it in its natural habitat.
– Real player with 13.5 hrs in game
Grow Big (or Go Home): Ultimate Edition
It is pretty good, if you are unsure, get it on sale, give it a refund if you don’t like it but i think it is a pretty neat game
– Real player with 68.6 hrs in game
Time management crossed with puzzle - Making sure plants get enough sunlight and water within constraints of a moving day schedule, with reflective mirrors. Stressful… I don’t have a green thumb.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4mLwkW83OA&pp=sAQA
– Real player with 5.0 hrs in game