TL:DR - If you like resource management games, survival on a colonial scale, and supply chains then you'll enjoy Surviving Mars. It isn't perfect, but its a darn good game and its flaws will undoubtably be fixed in time. Worth it now? Yes.

FIrst of all, a lot of the negative comments are valid. This is not a perfect game, and could use improving in some areas, but since the other reviews do a better job I won't detail those. Instead I'll tell you why you should buy this game: If you love management games (like me) the early game will be your jam. Setting up supply chains? Careful management of resources? Building redundant systems? I love all those things, and the early game is fun for me. If you dislike those things you will not like Surviving Mars.

It is not Cities Skylines, it is what Anno 2250 should have been. Because of that, many see the early game as tedious micromanagement, and that's a fair assessment. I just happen to like tedious micromanagement when the result, aka finally getting colonists on Mars and not having them die, is worth the effort. If this game didn't have that feeling of success then I wouldn't recommend it, but it does and it feels great to see your hard work rewarded with Martian babies being born.

I haven't played into the late game enough, but given what a lot of reviews have said that the late game is where it is most fun, and that mysteries can change the game, I'd say I'm going to continue to enjoy the game for a while.

TL:DR - If you like resource management games, survival on a colonial scale, and supply chains then you'll enjoy Surviving Mars. It isn't perfect, but its a darn good game and its flaws will undoubtably be fixed in time. Worth it now? Yes. FIrst of all, a lot of the negative comments are valid. This is not a perfect game, and could use improving in some areas, but since the other reviews do a better job I won't detail those. Instead I'll tell you why you should buy this game: If you love management games (like me) the early game will be your jam. Setting up supply chains? Careful management of resources? Building redundant systems? I love all those things, and the early game is fun for me. If you dislike those things you will not like Surviving Mars. It is not Cities Skylines, it is what Anno 2250 should have been. Because of that, many see the early game as tedious micromanagement, and that's a fair assessment. I just happen to like tedious micromanagement when the result, aka finally getting colonists on Mars and not having them die, is worth the effort. If this game didn't have that feeling of success then I wouldn't recommend it, but it does and it feels great to see your hard work rewarded with Martian babies being born. I haven't played into the late game enough, but given what a lot of reviews have said that the late game is where it is most fun, and that mysteries can change the game, I'd say I'm going to continue to enjoy the game for a while.