Mars 2030

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"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 Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

66%

Audience ScoreBased on 62 reviews

graphics6 positive mentions

stability8 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 educational exploration, allowing players to learn about Mars geology and the technology used in potential future missions.
The immersive experience, especially in VR, is highly praised, with many players enjoying the sense of being on Mars and the breathtaking scenery.

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 gameplay to be limited and lacking in depth, with minimal interaction and objectives, making it feel more like a walking simulator than a game.
The rover controls are often described as frustrating and difficult to master, leading to a less enjoyable experience when navigating the Martian terrain.

graphics
16 mentions
38 % positive mentions
44 % neutral mentions
19 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their stunning visuals, beautiful landscapes, and impressive details like footprints in the sand. 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 graphics are a highlight for many, 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.”
- “Later replayed with a 1080 Ti and it was better but still had to turn down the graphics settings to avoid low FPS.”
- “Even with my Titan card and the graphics set to auto, I was experiencing some judder in certain places.”
- “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
14 mentions
21 % positive mentions
57 % neutral mentions
21 % negative mentions
The game's story is criticized for its lack of depth and interactivity, with players feeling disconnected from the experience of being part of a manned mission to Mars. While the environment is visually captivating, there are no engaging objectives or interactions with other astronauts, leading to a sense of aimlessness and missed potential for a more immersive narrative. Overall, the experience is described as more of a basic simulation 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.”
- “Just don't go expecting anything crazy like alien ruins or a story or anything like that.”
- “Very basic elementary level of learning about the first human mission to Mars.”
stability
8 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
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. Despite its potential for exploration and discovery, players have reported significant frustrations due to the lack of updates since August 2017 and persistent gameplay interruptions.
- “The game has great potential, but it's still buggy: when you hold a rock in your hand you can't access the laboratory, and 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
6 mentions
33 % positive mentions
17 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant performance issues, such as ghosting and item pop-ins, particularly on lower-end hardware like the GTX 1060. However, others report a smoother experience after the 1.1 update, especially on higher-end systems like the 1080ti, indicating that further tweaks may be necessary for overall performance improvement.
- “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
4 mentions
75 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised for its ability to enhance the immersive experience, with many players noting how it complements the stunning visuals and evokes strong emotions during key moments, such as landing on Mars and exploring its landscapes. The ambient sound and music work in harmony with the game's atmosphere, creating a captivating backdrop that deepens the sense of exploration and wonder.
- “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.”
- “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 syncs with the scenery in front of you.”
- “The music in this game is often repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged during long play sessions.”
- “While the visuals are stunning, the music feels out of place and doesn't enhance the overall atmosphere of the game.”
- “The soundtrack is forgettable and fails to evoke any emotional response, which is disappointing given the game's potential.”
gameplay
2 mentions
50 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally basic but offers occasional surprises that help maintain player engagement. Overall, it provides a satisfactory experience, particularly for those using a GTX 1060.
- “The main gameplay is okay and very basic, but it does throw up a few surprises every now and then that keeps you invested.”
- “The main gameplay is okay and very basic, but it does throw up a few surprises every now and then that keep you invested.”
grinding
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
Players express a desire for a more immersive exploration experience in the game, akin to Google Earth for Mars, rather than the current grinding mechanics that feel restrictive and tedious due to vehicle limitations. They seek virtual exploration tools that would enhance the sense of discovery and freedom.
- “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.”
- “The grinding in this game feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged with the content.”
- “I find the grinding mechanics to be a major drawback; it feels like I'm just doing the same tasks over and over without any real progress.”
emotional
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, feeling that the meticulously crafted environments and items reflect real scientific endeavors and aspirations, which enhances their immersion and sense of authenticity. This blend of reality and imaginative gameplay fosters a profound appreciation for the game's narrative and setting.
- “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.”
- “The emotional depth of the characters and their stories really resonated with me, making every decision feel weighty and impactful.”
- “I was genuinely moved by the narrative; it felt like I was part of something bigger, and the emotional stakes kept me engaged throughout.”
atmosphere
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Reviewers consistently highlight the game's impressive graphics and sound design, contributing to a captivating and immersive atmosphere.
- “Great graphics, great sounds, wonderful atmosphere.”