Waking Mars

About

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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

90%

Audience ScoreBased on 932 reviews

story242 positive mentions

grinding50 negative mentions

Unique gameplay focused on exploration and ecosystem management rather than combat.
Engaging story with well-developed characters and good voice acting.
Beautiful art style and atmospheric soundtrack that enhance the overall experience.

Can become repetitive and tedious, especially in the later stages when farming for resources.
Some players may find the lack of direct action or combat unappealing.
Technical issues such as resolution problems and occasional bugs can detract from the experience.

story
470 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
46%
2%
The story in "Waking Mars" is generally well-received, characterized by its intriguing premise of exploring subterranean life on Mars and uncovering its mysteries. While some players found the narrative engaging and well-acted, others noted issues with pacing and a lack of depth in certain plot points, particularly towards the ending. Overall, the game is praised for its thoughtful storytelling and unique approach to sci-fi, making it a compelling experience for those who appreciate narrative-driven gameplay.
- “The story is interesting and well acted, and the gameplay loop is a good challenge.”
- “The story is engaging as well.”
- “Waking Mars is a relaxing and rewarding puzzler encased in a compelling sci-fi story.”
- “There's a bit of a story, but it feels rather lackluster.”
- “The dialogue feels stilted, the controls are clunky, the ending is poorly explained, and the mechanics sometimes lead to really clunky and grindy interactions.”
- “At this time, the game had outstayed its welcome as the story not really went anywhere.”
gameplay
332 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
52%
5%
The gameplay of "Waking Mars" is characterized by its unique mechanics centered around exploration and ecosystem-building, where players use a jetpack to plant and manage alien lifeforms. While many players appreciate the engaging and relaxing nature of the gameplay, some find it repetitive and simplistic, with occasional clunky controls. Overall, the game offers a refreshing non-combat experience that combines puzzle-solving with a compelling narrative, though it may not satisfy those seeking more challenging gameplay.
- “The gameplay is original and satisfying, and the setting, narration, and atmosphere are terrific.”
- “The gameplay revolves around growing plant creatures and creating ecosystems.”
- “Fantastic exploration-focused game, a unique ecosystem-building gameplay style, and a dynamic and thoughtful storyline make this one you can't afford to miss.”
- “Odd controls, boring gameplay, clunky platforming.”
- “Waking Mars is false advertising; truthfully, it puts you to sleep with its horrible gameplay and puzzles so bad it's a wonder someone could design them.”
- “The gameplay is lacking.”
graphics
158 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
35%
8%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the beautiful and atmospheric art style that effectively captures the essence of exploring Mars. However, some players criticize the technical execution, noting issues like limited animation frames and a simplistic aesthetic reminiscent of older 2D games. Overall, while the visuals may not be cutting-edge, they contribute positively to the game's immersive experience and storytelling.
- “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 artwork is beautiful, the story is engaging, the voice acting is excellent, and the cool electronic/ambient music soundtrack is also very good.”
- “To be clear, I'm not one of those idiots who thinks that high-fidelity graphics are everything, but there's a difference between good low-budget art and bad low-budget art, and this is definitely the latter.”
- “The graphics are pretty bad too, reminds me of 2D layered games from the 90s with pre-rendered stop-motion animations.”
- “The only downside is the art direction; the visuals could use some more work for sure.”
music
92 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
33%
3%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its atmospheric and ambient qualities that enhance the overall experience, while others find it forgettable or not fitting for certain moments. Many highlight the soundtrack as a strong point, describing it as relaxing and well-suited to the game's themes, though a few mention issues with audio bugs and volume inconsistencies during dialogue. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's immersive environment, despite some calls for more originality and memorability.
- “Great music that suits the game well; the movement in the game feels very fluid and enjoyable.”
- “The soundtrack is a fantastic and completely original electronic score composed by the studio.”
- “The artwork is beautiful, the story is engaging, the voice acting is excellent, and the cool electronic/ambient music soundtrack is also very good.”
- “The music really didn't fit the game in my opinion, and sometimes while the people were talking, the music was really loud.”
- “The only thing I didn't particularly like was the soundtrack.”
- “Boring soundtrack.”
atmosphere
83 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
65%
31%
4%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and evocative qualities, enhanced by a captivating story, strong voice acting, and a fitting soundtrack. Players appreciate the sense of exploration and discovery, with many noting that the atmospheric elements significantly elevate the overall experience, despite some repetitive gameplay. Overall, the game is described as a relaxing and engaging journey through beautifully crafted environments that effectively convey a unique sense of wonder and intrigue.
- “The atmosphere and story is what makes this game.”
- “The beautiful art and sound create an atmosphere unlike anything else.”
- “A wonderful atmospheric exploration game with a story.”
- “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.”
- “Good music could have added so much more atmosphere to the game.”
grinding
50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious, particularly in the late game where resource management and backtracking become repetitive. While some appreciate the fast travel system that alleviates some of the grind, many note that achieving 100% completion or specific endings requires significant effort and can detract from the overall experience. Despite these criticisms, the game's engaging story and mechanics keep it enjoyable for many players.
- “Though it can be a little tedious going back and forth to different areas for different resources.”
- “There's a fair amount of annoying grinding involved in getting the 'good' ending, which is unfortunate in an otherwise really well-paced game.”
- “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.”
replayability
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
65%
17%
Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players find it engaging with new concepts that keep the experience fresh, many others criticize it for being short and lacking substantial replay value. A few users noted that the game can be completed in a single sitting, and while there are some elements that encourage revisiting, such as alternate endings or bonus puzzles, the general consensus leans towards limited replayability. Players recommend it for its initial enjoyment but suggest it may not hold long-term appeal.
- “Great replayability.”
- “If the gameplay is good, and the game length not overly long, it makes for a game with great replay value.”
- “This has 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.”
- “Found it to have zero replayability, though.”
- “The entire game can be completed in a single sitting, and there's no replay value.”
humor
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with many players enjoying the witty banter and comedic dialogue between characters, particularly praising the AI companion and ship's computer for their humor. However, some find certain clichés, like the "funny robot," to be overused and detracting from the overall experience. Overall, while the humor can be hit or miss, it contributes positively to the game's engaging atmosphere and unique storytelling.
- “The AI companion is absolutely hilarious.”
- “Additionally, throughout the game there is frequent dialogue between the characters that is actually really funny.”
- “The ship's computer is hilarious, too.”
stability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is a mixed bag, with users reporting various bugs and glitches, including event triggers failing, audio issues, and occasional crashes. While some players experienced game-breaking bugs, others found the overall experience enjoyable despite these issues. The developer's responsiveness to glitches is noted positively, but frequent freezing and menu design problems detract from the gameplay experience.
- “As for bugs and glitches, sometimes events don't trigger the first time around... one of the achievements may bug out and not trigger (like in my case).”
- “It's disappointing and frustrating to try and keep playing when the game freezes up every few seconds.”
- “There's also a number of glitches, stuff getting stuck in walls etc. but also game-breaking bugs that can ruin your file; thankfully I did not encounter this but I did get a kind of buggy ending the first time via skipping a large chunk of the endgame sequence by having enough core power to trigger the normal ending.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The game suffers from poor optimization on modern systems, requiring players to adjust resolution settings to improve performance. Many users report persistent stuttering issues that worsen over time, indicating a lack of effective performance management.
- “The game has not been optimized for modern systems; however, you may have to tweak the resolution settings.”
- “The game has not been optimized for modern systems; you may have to tweak the resolution settings.”
- “I was unable to fix the terrible game stuttering that seemed to build up over time.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its heartfelt story and pleasing aesthetics, creating a wholesome experience. The contrasting personalities of the characters, particularly Liang's emotional detachment and Amani's expressive nature, contribute to a soothing emotional journey. Overall, it is seen as a simple yet enjoyable game that resonates emotionally with players.
- “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.”
- “Overall, it's just a simple, wholesome game that was a decent amount of fun.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
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 underwhelming.”
- “The characters lack depth and fail to evolve throughout the game.”
- “There is a noticeable absence of meaningful character growth.”