Subnautica in the clouds: Solarpunk already has over 10,000 players

The constant pressure to survive in survival-crafting games such as Subnautica can become exhausting over time. Anyone looking for a more relaxed alternative might therefore be interested in Solarpunk, which launched on Steam on June 8. The concept is clearly attracting attention: according to SteamDB, Solarpunk has already reached a peak of over 10,000 concurrent players. Initial reviews could be better, however. The game costs $22.99 and does not have a launch discount. Steam Deck compatibility is at least listed as “Playable”. Solarpunk is also available on Xbox Game Pass.

Solarpunk is set in a colorful world of floating islands. Instead of fighting monsters or constantly struggling to survive, the focus is on building a cozy home in the clouds. Played from a first-person perspective, the game is broadly comparable to Subnautica – but without the constant threats. Players collect resources, build houses, plant fields, grow crops and create a sustainable energy system using solar, wind and hydropower. Combat is completely absent. Players only have to manage hunger and thirst.

The German gaming magazine PC Games review praises the likable core idea, the building system and the automation features, including sprinklers, drills, batteries, solar panels and drones. The game also appears to run pleasantly smoothly from a technical standpoint. The catch: Solarpunk seems to take the cozy factor a little too far. Long airship journeys, monotonous resource gathering and limited NPC interaction slow down the flow of play. Bugs and annoying inventory issues are also mentioned. As a result, PC Games gives it only 7 out of 10 points, while Steam currently shows 77% positive reviews from around 460 user reviews. Anyone specifically looking for a relaxed survival-crafting game could still get their money’s worth here – although much depends on whether developer Cyberwave continues to improve the game.