I am a huge fan of survival games with the scope to create a new home to keep you safe from anything that happens. Solarpunk offers this action with a cosy and relaxed edge. Unlike its peers, it isn’t too demanding when it comes to fatigue, food, and water. Furthermore, finding resources is pretty chill, and this makes exploration, base building, and progress feel less of a grind.
This calm survival title was developed by Cyberwave and published by rokaplay. It is a single-player or online multiplayer, cross-platform first-person game that takes place on an array of unique floating mechanics. There are familiar genre mechanics for core survival elements. Food, water, and fatigue must be managed. Moreover, there are base building layers, renewable energy sources to master, farming, and exploration with an airship. This makes it stand out from other titles, and I loved the unique twist on a well-trodden genre.
Solarpunk tells no tale.
Unsurprisingly, Solarpunk doesn’t tie itself into a story or a linear approach. Instead, gamers are encouraged to explore freely as they look to find a new home or new resources. This was great, as you can find the ideal position to create a base and use vast areas to set up your automated machines and renewable energy farm. Although this is familiar to other “factory automated” games, I liked the blend of survival mechanics and the excitement of discovering new places.
I’ve enjoyed many huge survival games, but Solarpunk doesn’t sit in this category. There isn’t endless gameplay, and you will not invest 200+ hours into the action. Instead, you are looking at around 20 to 30 hours to get the best out of it. This could expand a little more if you adore the base building mechanics, but once you get to grips with this and you have everything unlocked, things plateau. This isn’t a complaint, as I loved every moment; it is simply a warning if you expect to invest months of fun-filled gaming into this survival title.
Exploration is key.
Solarpunk thrives as an exploration title. First, you endure some rudimentary content. Sticks and stones are used to make tools and buildings. Things quickly advance as you find new base resources and improve your technology. This is where things get interesting. Once you get your hands on the airship, you can explore freely and begin to feel the true power that this game has to offer.
Moving between islands was a joy, and finding different resources and areas to build was where this excels. Although this has a sense of repetition, I didn’t mind. Instead, I made the most of the library of available building blocks. One thing to note is the lack of endgame content. Once you hit the pinnacle of your research tree, there is nowhere else to go. This was unfortunate as I loved the renewable energy system, the automated machines, and the benefits they bestowed.
Solarpunk has a cartoon edge.
The cel-shaded aesthetic makes Solarpunk a pleasant and cartoony experience that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Each element has a unique appearance, and I liked how easy it was to identify different materials. Furthermore, the floating islands offer enough differences to keep things interesting. The developer has incorporated a day/night cycle, dynamic weather, sunsets, and other atmospheric elements to bring the world to life.
The audio matches the relaxed theme with its soft ambient music, relaxing atmospheric sounds, and chilled background melodies. There is nothing offensive about the audio design, but it lacks a memorable edge as well. Sadly, this isn’t a game that’ll stick in your mind long after you finish playing it.
Excellent controls.
There are plenty of areas to master, and this does a great job of teaching you the basics. The opening stages work as a clean and easy-to-follow tutorial. Afterwards, the excellent UI ensures that you never feel out of your depth. Managing your inventory was a little clunky, and I feel it would work better on a PC. This is a minor complaint as it is manageable, even if it could have been easier to handle.
Replay value and longevity depend on whether you have a good group of friends. If you do, you can mess around as you explore, build, and experiment with different setups. If you don’t, you’ll be limited in how much enjoyment you get from one playthrough. Regardless, there are around 20 to 30 hours of action per playthrough.
Solarpunk is a relaxed survival experience.
If you want a hellish, challenging, and time-demanding survival game, Solarpunk will not be for you. However, if you want to relax after work without feeling like it is a second job, this is the perfect title. Every layer is focused on chilled and calm action. Moreover, there is enough depth to keep you going. Accordingly, I like it and recommend buying it here! Can you make a home in the clouds? Gather resources, research new gear, and take to the skies.
