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About ICARUS
Icarus is a PvE survival title where up to eight players drop from an orbital station onto a hostile, terraformed world. Players must manage oxygen, harvest resources, craft gear, hunt wildlife and survive storms, fires and toxic air while seeking exotic matter.
The game offers three distinct modes—Open World, timed Missions and creative Outposts—each delivering the same narrative content. Progression relies on three tech trees, animal taming, and an orbital workshop where exotic matter can be exchanged for advanced items.
01 / THE GUIDE
Game Modes
Open World lets a party establish bases, survive the elements and complete narrative quests called Operations. Players start with limited gear, must locate oxygen, build shelter and can chain Operations together for a longer campaign.
Missions are limited‑time drops where participants begin with nothing, mine exotic matter and must escape before the timer ends. Outposts provide a sandbox with regenerating resources and safe zones, focusing on building and experimentation rather than survival pressure.
- Begin with a short Mission to learn drop‑in mechanics before tackling Open World.
- Use Outposts to prototype structures without risking supplies.
02 / THE GUIDE
Co‑op Play
Icarus supports up to eight co‑op players via Steam friends or dedicated servers. Dedicated servers are free and recommended for Open World sessions, giving a stable environment for larger groups.
Players can cooperate to gather resources, build bases and fend off predators together, or play solo if they prefer a single‑player experience.
- Assign roles—one player can focus on hunting while another gathers building materials.
- Run a dedicated server for smoother Open World sessions with a full crew.
03 / THE GUIDE
Technology Trees
Three separate tech trees—planetary tech, player talents and the orbital workshop—guide progression. Four tiers of technology span hand‑crafted items to advanced composites and electronics, using more than eight building materials.
Over 100 talents let players specialize in exploring, building, farming, hunting, taming and fighting. The orbital workshop trades exotic matter for advanced items with unique properties.
- Prioritize early talents that improve oxygen management and basic crafting.
- Collect exotic matter to unlock higher‑tier tech at the orbital workshop.
04 / THE GUIDE
Animal Taming
Players can hunt native creatures or bring Earth animals, earn their trust and develop them through talent trees. Tamed mounts aid traversal and defense, while breeding passes favorable traits to offspring.
Companions have their own talent trees, allowing equipment and skill upgrades separate from the player, and farms can be established to sustain operations.
- Tame a fast mount early to reduce travel time across harsh terrain.
- Breed animals with complementary traits to create stronger companions.
05 / THE GUIDE
World Setting
Icarus is an Earth‑like planet whose terraforming collapsed, leaving a toxic atmosphere and a temperamental environment of storms, fires and apex predators.
Prospectors drop from an orbital station to extract exotic matter for Earth factions; survivors return as veterans, while those left behind are lost forever.
- Locate an oxygen source immediately after drop to avoid suffocation.
- Watch weather cues to avoid being caught in destructive storms.
COMMUNITY
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