Waking Mars

91%
Game Brain Score Based on 513 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Waking Mars Game Cover
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In Waking Mars , players explore an open-world network of caves filled with alien life forms and ruins. To survive, they must learn to create ecosystems with exotic plants and creatures, using some to feed others. The goal is to discover the secrets of Mars' past before time runs out.

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Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

91%
Audience ScoreBased on 513 reviews
story137 positive mentions
grinding27 negative mentions
  • The game features an amazing story with multiple endings that keeps players engaged.
  • Waking Mars offers a unique gameplay experience focused on exploration and ecosystem management, allowing players to interact with a living world.
  • The visuals are unique and interesting, complemented by good voice acting and a relaxing atmosphere.
  • Some players found the game repetitive and lacking in challenge as it progresses.
  • There are technical issues, such as bugs and crashes, that can hinder the gameplay experience.
  • The controls can feel clunky at times, especially when using a gamepad, which may detract from the overall enjoyment.
  • story269 mentions

    The game's story is widely praised for its depth, engaging characters, and intriguing plot, often compared to classic science fiction. Players appreciate the multiple endings and the thoughtful integration of gameplay mechanics with the narrative, although some note inconsistencies in dialogue and pacing. Overall, the storytelling is seen as a significant strength, enhancing the exploration and puzzle-solving elements of the game.

    • “This is certainly the main draw of the game but it also boasts an intriguing story and appealing characters.”
    • “The story kept my attention enough that at the end I reloaded my save game a couple of times to check out the alternate endings.”
    • “The story is rich and deep and so are the characters, the graphics are great, the gameplay is new and interesting, everything is just incredible!”
    • “The dialog feels stilted, the controls are clunky, the ending is poorly explained (and not in the Dark Souls way where the devs deliberately left confusing hints at a plot you're not supposed to understand easily, more like they weren't quite sure what happened or how to communicate it), the mechanics sometimes lead to really clunky and grindy interactions with a low skill ceiling, and the graphics are in a style that would look cool if they'd had the budget to give anything more than a two-frame cycle for sprites.”
    • “At this time the game had outstayed its welcome as the story not really went anywhere.”
    • “I just saw some endings and I was shocked that the story really went nowhere and did not make any sense at all.”
  • gameplay178 mentions

    The gameplay of "Waking Mars" is characterized by its unique mechanics centered around planting and nurturing alien life forms to create ecosystems, blending elements of puzzle-solving and exploration. While many players appreciate the innovative and engaging nature of the gameplay, some note that it can become repetitive and lacks depth in challenge as the game progresses. Overall, the game offers a relaxing experience with a strong narrative, though it may not appeal to those seeking more traditional platforming or combat mechanics.

    • “All the mechanics, story, and worldbuilding fit together quite well; its focus and scope feel exactly right, and it's very well polished.”
    • “Gameplay is mostly about figuring out how to leverage the interactions between different lifeforms to get what you want, such as providing useful organic tools or populating areas with a stable ecosystem.”
    • “The gameplay is original and satisfying, and the setting, narration, and atmosphere are terrific.”
    • “The dialog feels stilted, the controls are clunky, the ending is poorly explained, the mechanics sometimes lead to really clunky and grindy interactions with a low skill ceiling, and the graphics are in a style that would look cool if they'd had the budget to give anything more than a two-frame cycle for sprites.”
    • “Eventually though, the mechanics do get fairly repetitive - or at least they do if you decide to finish the game in a way that actually gives you a narrative ending.”
    • “The gameplay fell a bit short.”
  • graphics99 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the artistic style and atmospheric visuals, while others criticize the simplistic animations and low frame rates. Many highlight the charm and beauty of the artwork, particularly in capturing the game's sci-fi setting, but note that the graphics may feel dated or lack sophistication. Overall, while the visuals are not groundbreaking, they contribute positively to the game's immersive experience.

    • “The art style is pure gold and I have to thank the artists for making this game just so beautiful.”
    • “The visuals are bright and fantastic, with its parallax-heavy and vaguely paper-like aesthetic giving the whole experience a much cheerier tone than you'd expect from 'trapped underground on Mars by yourself.'”
    • “The graphics are nice, but the animation is lacking.”
    • “Let's get the bad part out of the way first: the graphics are uninspiring.”
    • “The graphics are pretty bad too, reminds me of 2D layered games from the 90's with prerendered stop-motion animations.”
    • “The only two downsides I can think of, first, the art style, which is really not the best, the animations are quite choppy (especially on the moving zoas), and while it certainly got its own charm, I did not find it that appealing.”
  • music53 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric and ambient qualities, enhancing the overall experience with a fitting electronic score that complements the game's exploration themes. While many reviewers highlight the soundtrack as beautiful and evocative, some note that it could be more original or memorable. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the game's immersive and serene atmosphere, making it a standout feature.

    • “The soundtrack is a fantastic and completely original electronic score composed by the studio.”
    • “The music is chill, and reminds me of the soundtracks from sci-fi games from the 90's.”
    • “It's a peaceful game, something that's bolstered by a great soundtrack and a great visual style.”
    • “Music could be more original.”
    • “The only thing I didn't particularly like was the soundtrack.”
    • “The music is forgettable but makes for appropriate ambiance.”
  • atmosphere46 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and calming qualities, enhanced by an ambient soundtrack and creative visuals that evoke a sense of exploration and wonder. Players appreciate the intriguing story and voice acting, which contribute to a feeling of mystery and discovery, making it a unique experience in the puzzle platformer genre. Despite some criticisms regarding pacing or gameplay elements, the overall atmosphere is considered a standout feature that captivates players throughout their journey.

    • “The atmosphere, the gameplay, the storyline, all of it.”
    • “The real thing here is the atmosphere, especially if you like science fiction, and I don't mean Hollywood action movies, I mean novels about space and planet exploration, science, and discovering ancient civilizations.”
    • “The beautiful art and sound create an atmosphere unlike anything else.”
    • “These things kill the atmosphere which this Spartan game with its tone of hard sci-fi is in dire need.”
    • “Unfortunately, it completely ruins the atmosphere the game is trying to set up.”
    • “What the game has going for it is the story and atmosphere.”
  • grinding27 mentions

    Players generally find the grinding aspects of the game to be tedious, particularly in the late stages where item management and resource gathering become repetitive. While some appreciate the fast travel system that alleviates some of the grind, many feel that the need to restock on items and achieve specific goals can detract from the overall experience. Despite these criticisms, the game is still recommended for fans of farming simulators, as it offers a unique blend of exploration and resource management.

    • “The dialog feels stilted, the controls are clunky, the ending is poorly explained, the mechanics sometimes lead to really clunky and grindy interactions with a low skill ceiling, and the graphics are in a style that would look cool if they'd had the budget to give anything more than a two-frame cycle for sprites.”
    • “But the game really starts to drag around chapter 4, with increasingly tedious work needing to be done to hit 4 and 5 level biomasses for the rooms.”
    • “You have to have certain items in your possession, and can only carry a few, so near the end it became so much about running around--nope, not here, let's try this one--that it just got incredibly tedious.”
  • replayability18 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the engaging story and occasional new concepts that keep the experience fresh, many others find it limited due to a lack of content and linear gameplay. Several reviews highlight that once the game is completed, there is little incentive to replay it, despite some enjoyment in exploring and experimenting within the game world. Ultimately, while a few players note significant replay value, the consensus leans towards a lack of substantial replayability.

    • “If the gameplay is good, and the game length not overly long, it makes a game with great replay value.”
    • “The fact I apparently finished it before solving one of the major end puzzles gave the game some measure of replayability as I used my previous end save game to complete the bonus puzzle and unlock the two other endings.”
    • “This has an amazing replayability, and overall, I'd give it a 93/100.”
    • “It respects your time, but it doesn't really have a lot of content or replayability.”
    • “It's not a very long game, nor does it have much replay value.”
    • “No replay value.”
  • humor12 mentions

    The humor in the game is generally well-received, with characters displaying fun banter and a humorous AI companion that adds to the experience. While some find the humor to be clichéd or inconsistent, many appreciate the clever dialogue and engaging story that contribute to an overall satisfying experience. The voice acting, though sometimes perceived as hammy, complements the lighthearted tone of the game.

    • “The AI companion is absolutely hilarious.”
    • “It's funny, its implications are really interesting, and the experience I've had playing this game is... well... 108.6% satisfying :D”
    • “The art and visuals are simple but excellent; the characters look like they were hand-drawn based on models, which adds a lot to the sweet and sometimes humorous character dialogue.”
  • stability6 mentions

    The game's stability is mixed, with several users reporting various glitches, including audio issues, game-breaking bugs, and problems with the menu design. While some players experienced significant bugs that could affect gameplay, others found the game generally stable and enjoyable, highlighting responsive developer support for troubleshooting. Overall, the game has a few notable stability issues, but many players still found it to be a solid experience.

    • “It's a short playthrough, a little over seven hours, and there are some glitches.”
    • “You'll probably need to edit the .ini file to turn lightmapping off or the game will crash on launch, and there are some early audio glitches. Overall though, it's an enjoyable little game.”
    • “There's also a number of glitches, like stuff getting stuck in walls, but there are also game-breaking bugs that can ruin your save file. Thankfully, I did not encounter this, but I did get a kind of buggy ending the first time by skipping a large chunk of the endgame sequence due to having enough core power to trigger the normal ending.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The game's optimization has been criticized for causing significant stuttering issues that worsen over time, with users reporting an inability to resolve these performance problems despite system checks and performance reports.

    • “Was unable to fix the terrible game stuttering that seemed to build up over time.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    The game is praised for its heartfelt story and pleasing aesthetics, creating an emotionally resonant experience. The contrasting personalities of the characters, particularly Liang's detached curiosity and Amani's expressive comments, contribute to a soothing emotional depth.

    • “The story is heartfelt, and the aesthetics of the game are pleasing.”
    • “Liang's emotionally detached curiosity, in contrast to Amani's personality-loaded comments, brings peace to my soul.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Character development is minimal yet effectively executed, striking a balance that resonates well with players.

    • “Character development is minimal, but just right.”
    • “The character arcs are well-crafted and deeply engaging.”
    • “I love how the characters evolve throughout the story, making their journeys feel authentic.”
    • “Character development is minimal and feels rushed.”
    • “The characters lack depth and their growth is hardly noticeable.”
    • “I found the character arcs to be predictable and uninspired.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

9hMedian play time
9hAverage play time
7-11hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 6 analyzed playthroughs

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