Ambitious new open-world survivalcraft game with free Steam demo is like space Minecraft with intergalactic pirates

The general gist of Cubic Odyssey can be pretty neatly summed-up as "Minecraft in space", since it features a similar mix of scenic and blocky art and a vast open world, but there's a little more to the game than that. Cubic Odyssey delivers similar resource gathering, mining, and crafting mechanics to the genre-defining survivalcraft game. However, much like the ambitious promises made by the likes of No Man's Sky, Cubic Odyssey's developers say that any planet you can see can be landed on, explored, mined, and settled, if players choose. Similarly, Cubic Odyssey offers players "RPG-like depth," with character customisation, skills progression, and new crafting recipes for upgrades and equipment to further your space conquering adventure. 

Where Cubic Odyssey sets itself apart is its spacefaring setting, since the new game mixes in some story-telling elements and puts players up against a galactic threat. The Red Darkness, as the threat is called, is an interplanetary plague that "mutates wildlife, consumes planets, and threatens all life," and, as expected of an open-world survivalcraft game, players can attempt to fend off the Red Darkness or simply ignore it and try to live alongside it. There are other in-game mechanics that make Cubic Odyssey more than just a Minecraft clone, like the inclusion of other civilisations on alien worlds and space pirates that players will encounter on their interplanetary adventures. 

Cubic Odyssey supports both single-player and co-op gameplay, with support for both LAN and online parties. It also fully supports the Valve Steam Deck, with a Platinum ProtonDB rating, meaning it will run well on devices like the Lenovo Legion Go (curr. $699.99 from Lenovo US). 

Reviews for Cubic Odyssey aren't quite as positive as some other games we've covered in recent weeks, although they still paint an overall positive picture. The few recurring complaints seem to relate to minor bugs, a slow-down in late-game progression, and a somewhat difficult grind for resources. What it does have going for it is fun mobility with cruisers and land-speeders, a creative premise, and a lot of flexibility and fun in the crafting mechanics. The developer also appears to be quite dedicated to polishing the game to deliver an improved experience. In the roughly two weeks since the game launched, there have been five patches or hotfixes addressing major complaints, and the developer has published a roadmap acknowledging community feedback and laying out plans to fix many of the existing problems. 

Cubic Odyssey on Steam