Waking Mars similar games & best alternatives

Waking Mars - Trailer
Waking Mars - waking-mars_1.avif
Waking Mars - waking-mars_2.avif
Waking Mars - waking-mars_3.avif
Waking Mars - waking-mars_4.avif
Waking Mars - waking-mars_5.avif
Waking Mars - waking-mars_6.avif

Waking Mars

Linux, Android, PC (Microsoft Windows), iOS, Mac • 2012

Should you play it?

In 2097, life is discovered on Mars. When your mission of first contact becomes trapped by a cave-in, you must master the alien ecosystem to survive. Soon you stumble upon more than anyone expected, and with time running out, you will make a decision that determines the fate of a lost planet.

What works

  • Unique ecosystem building gameplay
  • Engaging sci-fi story and characters
  • Relaxing and immersive atmosphere
  • Multiple endings and replayability
  • Well-executed voice acting and soundtrack

Things to keep in mind

  • Some repetitive gameplay elements
  • Simple graphics and animations
  • Limited challenge and puzzle depth
  • Minor bugs and occasional confusing guidance
  • Lack of multiplayer or social features

What to play next

Top picks

Games that feels the closest overall

  • The Planet Crafter: Prologue

  • SteamWorld Dig 2

  • Astrometica: Prologue

  • Zefyr: A Thief's Melody

  • Nihilumbra

  • Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom

More violent

Games that feels like Waking Mars but with more combat and destruction

  • Hollow Knight

  • Turbo Kid

  • Arboria

  • Strange Seed

  • The Mobius Machine

  • KAKU: Ancient Seal

Less expressive

Games that feels like Waking Mars but with less self-expression and customization

  • Outer Wilds

  • Echoed World

  • Teslagrad 2

  • CAT Interstellar

  • Knytt Underground

  • A Highland Song

Less survival-focused

Games that feels like Waking Mars but with less survival pressure

  • Seasons after Fall

  • SCARF

  • LOST EMBER

  • Cavern of Dreams

  • Yooka-Replaylee

  • Corn Kidz 64

More thrilling

Games that feels like Waking Mars but with more suspense and thrill

  • Subnautica

  • Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition

  • Someday You'll Return: Director's Cut

  • A Story About My Uncle

  • Downward: Enhanced Edition

  • Max: The Curse of Brotherhood

Choose your own criteria ->

Similarity map

How to compare these games

Compare nearby games

Each card is a nearby game on the similarity map, compared with Waking Mars. Swipe sideways to move between games. Titles already listed in What to play next are left out.

  • Cover and title: open that game’s page.
  • What works / keep in mind: the same highlights as the desktop comparison panel.
  • Bars: the main motivational differences versus this game.
How to use the graph

Similarity map

Each dot is a game placed from its motivation profile relative to this page’s game. Direction shows which motivation differs most; distance along that axis shows how large the gap is.

  • Purple star: this page’s game at the centre — everything is relative to it.
  • Direction: each axis is a main motivational difference vs this game (e.g. more / less competitive).
  • Distance on an axis: how large that difference is (ring scales show +/− points).
  • Coloured chips: click to highlight games that mainly differ on that motivation; click again to reset.
  • Dotted line: link between this page’s game and the one selected for comparison.
  • Hover a dot to preview that game in the panel on the right; click to keep that comparison.
  • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom.

How to read the map This is a polar difference map: direction = which motivation differs, and distance = how much (same units as the sidebar deltas).

Swipe to compare nearby games with Waking Mars. These titles are not in What to play next.

Waking Mars: Less representative of its motivational profile, with noticeable differences. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Violence, Survival, Fellowship, Intimacy. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Relaxation. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Violence, Thrill.

Last update: 21/08/2026