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About Surviving Mars
Surviving Mars is a sci‑fi city‑builder where you establish the first human colonies on the Red Planet. You select a space agency for resources, pick a landing site, and construct domes, infrastructure and research facilities while keeping colonists alive. The game blends strategic planning with survival challenges, requiring careful management of oxygen, power and supplies.
Each colonist is a distinct individual whose needs and quirks affect the settlement. Randomly generated mysteries, such as strange black cubes, add narrative depth, while a robust modding system lets players share custom buildings and scenarios with the community.
01 / THE GUIDE
Colony Planning
Choosing a landing location and allocating resources early determines long‑term viability. Bad planning can lead to power outages and oxygen shortages, which directly threaten survival. The game emphasizes smart layout over aesthetic concerns.
Traffic flow isn’t the main issue; instead, you must ensure power grids, water lines and oxygen supplies are interconnected and redundant. Planning ahead reduces the risk of rolling blackouts in a world without natural oxygen.
- Map out power and oxygen pipelines before expanding domes.
- Leave space for future upgrades to avoid costly redesigns.
02 / THE GUIDE
Colonist Management
Each colonist possesses unique problems and strengths that influence colony dynamics. Their personal issues, such as a chief scientist developing alcoholism, can affect overall productivity.
Maintaining morale and health is crucial; neglect can lead to reduced efficiency or loss of life. Providing amenities like bars or recreational areas helps balance work and well‑being.
- Monitor individual colonist traits to assign suitable jobs.
- Include leisure facilities to mitigate stress.
03 / THE GUIDE
Research & Mysteries
Research combines static and random elements, offering a different experience each playthrough. Experimentation unlocks scientific breakthroughs and reveals Mars’ secrets.
Mysteries like the black cubes or the sphere near HUB B may bring fortune or ruin, encouraging exploration and risk assessment.
- Prioritize research labs early to accelerate breakthroughs.
- Investigate anomalies promptly to gauge their impact.
04 / THE GUIDE
Building & Infrastructure
Construct retro‑futuristic structures such as factories, commercial buildings and parks, each contributing to a neighborhood’s personality. Functional buildings provide essential services like power, water and food production.
Efficient layout supports survival; inadequate power or oxygen can cause blackouts. Use drones to expand and refine your settlement as needs evolve.
- Group related utilities to minimize pipeline length.
- Upgrade drones for faster construction and maintenance.
05 / THE GUIDE
Modding & Community
Surviving Mars includes extensive modding tools that let players craft custom buildings, parks or even new mysteries. These creations can be shared through the Steam Workshop.
The community contributes a variety of mods, expanding gameplay possibilities and allowing players to tailor their colonies to personal visions of a utopia or a harsh frontier.
- Browse the Steam Workshop for quality‑tested mods before installing.
- Back up saves when testing new mods to avoid corruption.
COMMUNITY
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