Mars Horizon Image
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  • Summary: Lead a major space agency as you guide humanity to Mars in this strategy simulation game. Construct a base, design and build rockets, conduct missions throughout the Solar System, and write your own history of Space exploration. Created with support from the European Space Agency.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 3
  2. Negative: 0 out of 3
  1. Jan 20, 2021
    83
    Though it isn’t the perfect space game, it’s a pretty darn good one. It gives you so much to think about, but it never feels overwhelming thanks to the three difficulty settings. A casual player will have a great time with the Explorer setting, whereas fans of resource management games who love to strategize will enjoy the Veteran setting. The game is also educational and a great way to get newcomers interested in space.
  2. 65
    Mars Horizon is a low barrier to entry space management sim that is easy going enough to be something played while sitting on the couch with a show in the background. Its systems are light enough to not be overwhelming, and even if they become too much for you, a well-defined tutorial does a good job of holding your hand as you get a grasp of things. The core problem and one that brings this down from a great game to simply fine is just how little control you get over actual launches. If there was more agency in that side of things, then this would be a no-brainer recommendation.
  3. Jan 7, 2021
    60
    Mars Horizon is a simple yet addictive strategy sim that takes you to the very heart of space exploration itself. Take charge of your own space agency but be careful as one mistake can end in disaster!
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 3
  3. Negative: 0 out of 3
  1. Nov 26, 2020
    10
    Amazing. Has got me hooked and playing for hours and hours. The game focuses heavily on managing a space program more than actually buildingAmazing. Has got me hooked and playing for hours and hours. The game focuses heavily on managing a space program more than actually building rockets and launching them and all the rocket science behind that. If you're looking for a game like Kerbal Space Program this isn't exactly that.

    You take control of a space agency of your choice at the start of the Space Race in the 50's and go from there. Managing costs, rocket launches, research, and launch dates. The goal is to compete (or work with) with other agencies around the world to be the first to reach mars, and then beyond.
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  2. Nov 23, 2020
    8
    This game got me hooked and I cannot put it down. The only thing that keeps me from playing it into the wee hours of the morning is theThis game got me hooked and I cannot put it down. The only thing that keeps me from playing it into the wee hours of the morning is the battery on my switch. It is a pretty spot-on representation of the space race (with some obvious creative liberties taken in order to not make it too mundane). If you have an interest in space in general, you will probably get a kick out of this, especially when it is ~$5.00 in a few months. I take a point off for graphics, as I think even the switch is capable of much more, but it does have a fun cartoonish quality to it. The other point is for some frame rate issues when you inevitably start to speed up certain animations. Overall I would recommend if you have even some interest in the subject matter. Expand
  3. Nov 24, 2020
    8
    As they mentioned in their FAQ, compared to KSP this game focuses more on the managing side of creating a space agency. This game provides aAs they mentioned in their FAQ, compared to KSP this game focuses more on the managing side of creating a space agency. This game provides a great experience if you like managing games and you like space exploration. There's 3 large tech trees that will unlock various things to achieve the ultimate goal of having crewed Mars missions. This makes it a fairly dynamic range of paths you can take to beat other space agencies in milestone missions (top 3 agencies get bonus rewards).

    Other than the managing aspect of the game, the second main gameplay is a resource allocation puzzle. It gets challenging as you progress to the harder missions and also significantly harder if you want to complete the bonus objectives. After doing them for so long they will start to feel repetitive, although you do have an option to auto-resolve them by letting rng take over.

    Rng plays a major role in all aspects of the game from launching a rocket, to the payload reliability, and the auto-resolve. For the most part it is manageable but sometimes it does get frustrating when it interferes with missions. This could also result in failure of a mission or two.

    The reason why I give it 8/10 is because there are some noticeable graphics issues and performance issues while playing it on the switch. The space shuttle for instance, flashes black and white when launching. Every time you see a satellite animation going into space before the puzzles, it kind of glitches/stretches itself from the left side of the screen to the right. Last but not least there are some animations that causes noticeable lag during a launch of a rocket. You'll also notice lag when you fast forward animations with ZR.

    That being said, it's still a fun game that is easy to get hooked on if you really enjoy space games. Why get this game on the switch when it's probably better optimized on Steam/PC? - It's a great game to play on the go and kill time with.
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