Mars 2030

About

"Mars 2030" is a virtual reality exploration game that allows players to experience life as an astronaut on Mars. Traverse 40 square kilometers of open Martian terrain, collect geological samples, and study them using a VR microscope. The game features realistic day-night cycles, weather conditions, and Martian gravity, providing an immersive and accurate representation of the Red Planet. The game can also be played without VR.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

66%

Audience ScoreBased on 124 reviews

graphics12 positive mentions

stability16 negative mentions

The game offers a stunning visual experience of Mars, accurately modeled using NASA data, making players feel like they are truly exploring the Martian landscape.
It provides a unique opportunity for open-world exploration, allowing players to traverse 40 square kilometers of Martian terrain and engage with the environment at their own pace.
The immersive experience, especially in VR, is highly praised, with many players enjoying the breathtaking sunsets and the feeling of being on another planet.

The game is plagued by numerous bugs and performance issues, including low frame rates, graphical glitches, and unresponsive controls, which detract from the overall experience.
Many players find the lack of interactive content and objectives disappointing, describing it more as a walking simulator with limited gameplay mechanics.
The rover controls are often criticized for being difficult to master, leading to frustration when navigating the Martian terrain.

graphics
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
53%
9%
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their stunning quality, beautiful landscapes, and impressive details like footprints in the sand, creating an immersive atmosphere. However, some players have reported issues such as judder and graphical anomalies, particularly on higher settings, which can detract from the experience. Overall, while the visuals are a highlight, performance inconsistencies may affect gameplay for some users.
- “First and foremost, the visuals are stunning, and the music was an incredible fit; I honestly got chills in the opening scene, landing on Mars, and when exploring the cavern.”
- “In terms of graphics, this game is absolutely spectacular.”
- “The superiority of the graphics' quality is complemented by an excellent choice of ambiance sound and, occasionally, music that perfectly goes in sync with the scenery in front of you.”
- “Even with my Titan card and the graphics set to auto, I was experiencing some judder in certain places.”
- “I also experienced some other graphical anomalies that seem related to the 3D itself.”
- “The combination of all the aforementioned graphical anomalies, judder, and controller issues led me to have to cut short my playthroughs for fear that I would actually get sick.”
story
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
75%
11%
The game's story is criticized for its lack of depth and interaction, as players find themselves in a seemingly aimless experience on Mars with no clear objectives or engaging narrative. While the environment is described as immersive and reflective of real scientific endeavors, the absence of communication with other astronauts and mission control leaves players feeling disconnected and unfulfilled. Overall, the experience is more of a simulation of being on Mars rather than a compelling story-driven adventure.
- “I feel like the kid during the Apollo missions dreaming of the day I'd be an astronaut and land on Mars.”
- “If the idea of the mission was a non-stop experience to stun the unaware cosmonaut, you got it, guys. Every step, every mile traveled was a new world for me: the changing colors of the soil, the underground lava, the dust storms, the music, the stones that tell me stories of galaxies whose light may not have reached us.”
- “By knowing that all the ships and housing units I've been during the mission, the equipment I handled, the plants I saw in the greenhouses, and even the food cans stored in the dining room are not the result of someone's imagination, but the product of a long scientific investigation on the dream to reach Mars, made me feel that this is a game of reality, not a reality game.”
- “You're supposed to be part of the first manned mission to Mars, but once you arrive at the habitat, there are no further goals, the other astronauts don't talk to you (or each other), they're always in the same place doing the same thing, mission control sends no further messages, etc. You're free to come and go from the habitat as you please.”
- “Very basic elementary level of learning about the first human mission to Mars.”
- “Just don't go expecting anything crazy like alien ruins or a story or anything like that.”
stability
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is plagued by numerous bugs and stability issues, including problems with VR locomotion, lag, and visual glitches, which contribute to an overall feeling of being unfinished. Users have reported specific issues such as inaccessible features when holding items and erratic behavior during sandstorms. Despite its potential, the lack of updates since August 2017 has left many players frustrated with its current state.
- “The game has great potential, but it's still buggy: when you hold a rock in your hand you can't access the laboratory, when there are sandstorms you can also see it inside the module ... the game itself has not been updated since August 2017.”
- “Very buggy, VR locomotion not great... just feels very unfinished.”
- “Extremely buggy and laggy.”
optimization
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
50%
33%
The game's optimization has received mixed feedback, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including graphical glitches and struggles on lower-end hardware like the GTX 1060. However, some users who played after the 1.1 update noted improved performance, particularly on higher-end systems like the 1080ti, suggesting that further tweaks from the developers may enhance the experience. Overall, optimization remains a concern for a portion of the player base.
- “I bought this game after the 1.1 update and did not have any performance issues.”
- “Playing with a 1080 Ti and the performance needs tweaking by the devs. I will update my review as I play more, but right now I am loving it.”
- “Items pop in and out of existence and it's not optimized very well.”
- “Performance could be an issue for some; my 1060 was struggling, resulting in a ghosted image.”
- “The performance of this game is just awful.”
music
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The music in the game is highly praised for its ability to enhance the immersive experience, with players noting that it perfectly complements the stunning visuals and atmospheric moments, such as landing on Mars and exploring caverns. Many reviewers felt that the soundtrack added emotional depth, creating chills during key scenes and enriching the overall journey through the game's environments.
- “First and foremost, the visuals are stunning, and the music was an incredible fit; I honestly got chills in the opening scene, landing on Mars, and when exploring the cavern.”
- “The superiority of the graphics' quality is complemented by an excellent choice of ambient sound and, occasionally, music that perfectly goes in sync with the scenery in front of you.”
- “If the idea of the mission was a nonstop experience to stun the unaware cosmonaut, you got it, guys. Every step, every mile traveled was a new world for me: the changing colors of the soil, the underground lava, the dust storms, the music, the stones that tell me stories of galaxies whose light may not have reached us.”
- “Watching the sunset on Mars alone is eerie, especially with some of the music at sites to plant flags.”
- “If the idea of the mission was a non-stop experience to stun the unaware cosmonaut, you got it, guys. Every step, every mile traveled was a new world for me: the changing colors of the soil, the underground lava, the dust storms, the music, the stones that tell me stories of galaxies whose light may not have reached us.”
gameplay
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The gameplay is generally considered basic but engaging, with occasional surprises that maintain player interest.
- “The main gameplay is okay and very basic, but it does throw up a few surprises every now and then that keeps you invested.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express frustration with the grinding aspect of the game, wishing for a more immersive exploration experience akin to Google Earth for Mars, rather than being restricted by vehicles and tedious gameplay mechanics. They desire virtual exploration tools that would allow for a more engaging and less limited interaction with the environment.
- “I wish it was more of a Google Earth for Mars, where you can zoom around from planet to map level and explore at 'street view', rather than a tedious game-wannabe where you feel limited by vehicles. Give us the virtual exploration tools, and we'll imagine how slow it would be to get around in a vehicle.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, feeling that the meticulously crafted environments and items are grounded in real scientific exploration rather than mere fantasy. This sense of authenticity enhances their immersion, making the experience resonate on a personal level as they engage with the dream of reaching Mars.
- “Knowing that all the ships and housing units I've been in during the mission, the equipment I handled, the plants I saw in the greenhouses, and even the food cans stored in the dining room are not the result of someone's imagination, but the product of a long scientific investigation on the dream to reach Mars, made me feel that this is a game of reality, not a reality game.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, with users highlighting its impressive graphics and sound design, which together create a captivating and immersive experience.
- “Great graphics, great sounds, wonderful atmosphere.”

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Mars 2030
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About

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Mars 2030

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