Colony 37

About

Colony 37 is a single player survival survival game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Valen and was released on September 23, 2025. It received very positive reviews from players.

Colony 37 is a survival mining game where you dig deep into procedurally generated biomes, each with unique resources and threats. Earn money by selling ores and completing tasks from other miners while discovering hidden underground structures. Upgrade your gear with over 25 tools and 50 trinkets to enhance your abilities and survive the dangers below.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 47 reviews

music3 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

The game offers a satisfying gameplay loop of mining, selling, and upgrading, with a variety of tools and equipment that allow for different playstyles.
The art style and atmosphere are well-crafted, creating a unique and immersive experience that keeps players engaged.
Despite being in early access, the game has shown promise with regular updates and a responsive developer, making it feel like a worthwhile investment.

Progression can feel slow at times, and some players have noted that the upgrades lack uniqueness and variety.
There are several bugs and issues, including problems with interactions and occasional game-breaking glitches, which can detract from the experience.
The game can be punishing with mechanics like radiation damage and fall damage, which may frustrate some players, especially in the early stages.

story
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
55%
27%
The story in the game is described as intriguing and atmospheric, with players eager for further development and elaboration from the developers. While the early quests are limited, they contribute to a subtle yet dark narrative that enhances the overall experience, complemented by charming art and unique gameplay elements. However, some players express concerns about slow progression due to the limited number of quests available in the early access phase.
- “The story is pretty intriguing and makes you want to learn more.”
- “The UI elements are charming, and the little bits of dialogue/world building you get when entering a deeper underground layer are intriguing due to how this game treats its subtle yet dark story/setting.”
- “My one complaint is, of course, since it's so early in development, progression seems very slow considering there are not many quests right now.”
- “The dev didn't need to include little quests and stuff to push the story, but they did.”
- “I couldn't access the first structure because the keypad just doesn't respond to any input, so I wasn't able to complete the first quest from the science team in the med bay.”
gameplay
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
The gameplay features a satisfying loop of digging, selling, and upgrading, with a variety of tools and deployable equipment that enhance the experience. Each zone introduces unique mechanics, keeping the gameplay fresh and engaging as players progress and discover rare trinkets. Overall, the game successfully combines an enjoyable atmosphere with a compelling gameplay rotation.
- “As you get more money and dig deeper, you can rotate between different tools, grab deployable equipment, and find rare trinkets to equip for an easier flow of gameplay.”
- “Lots to do and each zone you dig into has an interesting mechanic.”
- “I'm a real big fan of the gameplay loop of digging, selling, and upgrading, and this game does it very well.”
- “The gameplay feels repetitive after a while, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “There are too many bugs that disrupt the gameplay experience, leading to frustration.”
- “The controls are clunky and make the gameplay less enjoyable than it could be.”
graphics
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a unique art style that effectively enhances its horror elements and atmospheric storytelling, contributing to its charm. However, some users have noted issues with visual quality, including pop-in problems and inconsistent environments, which detract from the overall experience. Despite these drawbacks, the game's creative biome changes and variety in items help maintain a captivating aesthetic.
- “The art style fits the game perfectly, and when combined with the creative changes to the biomes, it does a great job of making the game feel like a horror game at times.”
- “A slow-paced and relaxing comfy-cozy-creepy atmospheric mining game that has a good amount of variety when it comes to items and uniquely enough, builds, as well as serious charm in the art style and subtle story setting/telling.”
- “The art style and content already stand out and give it real character.”
- “The controls are very floaty, the visuals are pretty terrible, especially with the pop-in, and every time I open a door in the mine, a different location is inside.”
- “The graphics are lacking, with noticeable pop-in issues that detract from the overall experience.”
- “The visuals feel outdated and do not match the charm of the game's concept.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
33%
The music in the game is minimalistic, focusing on ambient sounds rather than loud, intrusive tracks, allowing players to immerse themselves in the environment and the sounds of their tools.
- “The music perfectly complements the atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience without overwhelming the gameplay.”
- “I love how the soundtrack adapts to the environment, creating a dynamic and immersive experience.”
- “The subtle background music adds a layer of depth to the game, making exploration feel more engaging.”
- “No loud banging music in your ear, just the sound of your tools and whatever else may be down there with you.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, users report satisfactory performance and stability, with only minor issues noted in the optimization aspect.
- “I've encountered a few minor issues, but so far I'm pretty happy with the performance and stability.”
- “The optimization in this game is impressive, allowing for smooth gameplay even on lower-end systems.”
- “I appreciate how the developers have focused on optimization, making the game run seamlessly without any noticeable lag.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The atmosphere of the game is characterized as a slow-paced, cozy yet creepy mining experience, enhanced by a charming art style and subtle storytelling. Players appreciate the variety of items and builds, alongside satisfying gameplay that is complemented by immersive sounds, animations, and an intriguing sense of mystery and unpredictability. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a strong point, effectively drawing players into its unique world.
- “A slow-paced and relaxing comfy-cozy-creepy atmospheric mining game (early access of course) that has a good amount of variety when it comes to items and uniquely enough, builds, as well as serious charm in the art style and subtle story setting/telling.”
- “I think you nailed the atmosphere perfectly, and the gameplay loop is satisfying so far.”
- “The atmosphere, sounds, animations, and possibly more mysteries, lore, randomness, and unpredictability.”
- “The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth and immersion I was hoping for.”
- “Despite the potential for a rich environment, the atmosphere is dull and fails to engage the player.”
- “The sound design is underwhelming, which detracts significantly from the overall atmosphere of the game.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious due to its lack of background functionality, which forces them to wait for elevators, processors, or equipment credit generation without the ability to multitask. This design choice significantly detracts from the overall experience, making repetitive tasks feel even more burdensome.
- “The game does not run in the background or in a true windowed mode, making waiting for elevators, processors, or specific equipment's credit generation incredibly tedious.”
- “Grinding feels like a never-ending chore, with little reward for the time invested.”
- “The repetitive nature of grinding in this game quickly becomes exhausting and detracts from the overall experience.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy of the game capitalizes on the popular "FOMO" (fear of missing out) trend seen in digging games, offering a more engaging experience that feels less like a cash grab and more authentic compared to its competitors.
- “The monetization strategy feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending money.”
- “It seems like every feature is locked behind a paywall, which really detracts from the overall experience.”
- “The constant push for in-game purchases takes away from the enjoyment of playing and feels more like a cash grab.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find humor in unexpected glitches, such as falling out of the map and receiving absurd progress notifications, which adds a lighthearted element to their gaming experience.
- “Near the final structure at the bottom, there was nothing but open space to the left side of the door, so I fell out of the map, which was kind of funny because if I look at the PC in my room now, it says I reached the core and progressed to over 16,000 meters.”
- “Very funny.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, users report that the game exhibits strong stability, with minimal bugs or technical issues, contributing to a well-executed experience.