Category: Games

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The latest free game on the Epic Games Store is quite the change of pace from Minit, last week’s offering. From today until Thursday, October 17, you can grab Surviving Mars and the Space Race DLC on the house.

Developed by Haemimont Games and published by Stellaris developer Paradox Interactive, Surviving Mars released in 2018. A city-building simulation game, Surviving Mars tasks players with creating a thriving colony on the harsh Red Planet. At the start of each run, you choose a space agency, get your finances in order, and then choose a spot for your colony to take shape. Given the setting and title, it’s no surprise Surviving Mars has a survival bent to it. It’s a challenge to keep your workers alive amidst brutal weather conditions and unforeseen obstacles.

Surviving Mars, like Kerbal Space Program, applies real-world science to its simulation gameplay, a fact that makes it a unique and compelling entry in the city-building genre. Critic Daniel Starkey gave the game an 8/10 in GameSpot’s Surviving Mars review. Starkey praised the science behind the game, the wide array of ways to approach each situation, and the consequences that arise as a result of your choices.

“Surviving Mars, above else, is about hope. So many strategy games hold to their gameplay, eschewing any overarching themes or messages,” Starkey wrote. “But, as corny as it sounds, for those who believe in the majesty of spaceflight, for those who are keen to marvel at how pernicious our plucky little species can be, Surviving Mars is SimCity with soul.”

The Space Race DLC introduces rival AI colonies, each of whom are trying to become a Mars superpower.

Surviving Mars’ launch on the Epic Games Store as part of the Epic Free Games program comes on the heels of the announcement of the game’s sequel, Surviving the Aftermath. Entering Early Access on the Epic Games Store and Xbox Game Preview later this year, Surviving the Aftermath is a post-apocalyptic city-building sim.

All you need is a free Epic account to claim Surviving Mars and Space Race. Make sure to add these to your library before October 17, as they will be replaced by next week’s free offerings, Observer and Alan Wake’s American Nightmare.

Get Surviving Mars free at Epic

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