Players who have ever wanted to experience what it was like to be Mark Watney in The Martian want to keep an eye on this open-world survival game, Sol One. It is a single-player game, where the player is left behind by their crew and now it is up to them to build a rocket to return home. Sol One is being created by one developer, yeetgench, whose goal is to incorporate realistic science in the game’s mechanics.
Some features include base building, farming, dust storms, and a full-scale Mars. Players will be able to mine material from the planet, which will enable them to expand the size of their base. The raw materials available are iron, copper, silica, ice, and uranium. All of which can either be put into a smelter or fabricator.
The base itself runs on a power grid that players design and must keep functional. In the Early Access version, one feature will include an interior pressure system. It will allow players to manage their oxygen generator supply, keeping it in mind when creating the layout of their shelter. There is also a tech tree, which can improve the player’s base to the point of being close to self-sufficient.
Players will be able to drive out an explore Mars or use a rover to scout for material. The planet will include old mission bases, landing sites, and the ruins of crashed ships. These can be scavenged for useful material while unraveling what happened on the planet before the players arrived on their mission. However, players should be wary of venturing too far as they still need to manage their own power and oxygen levels, ensuring they have enough to return home safely.
It is a science-driven game, where the player must learn to survive on a planet that threatens to take them. Machines provide players with oxygen, food, and water. The only way to keep living is to keep them running, but are players up to the challenge? If so, Sol One will be available for Early Access on July 30th, 2026 via Steam.