Icarus is a new survival game that you can play solo or in coop on Steam. It was released on December 3rd and has received mixed reviews on Steam so far. While the gameplay is well-received, pretty much the rest is criticized.
What kind of game is it? In Icarus, you are part of a crew exploring new planets. You start at a space station and complete various missions that vary in length. A mission can take 10 minutes, but it can also last up to 48 hours of real playtime. You can complete these missions alone or with players in coop.
You will face numerous dangers on the alien planet, including:
- Wild animals that can hunt you and even poison you with bites.
- Random world events that make your life difficult.
- Hunger, thirst, and oxygen, which you must constantly keep track of, as the air of the planet is toxic
Icarus offers a diverse skill and tech system for your survival. You are expected to utilize your skills in countless combinations and have a lot of room for experimentation.
The well-known Twitch streamer shroud tested Icarus in beta and claims it could be one of the best survival games ever.
How is Icarus performing after launch? The release of Icarus took place on December 3rd. The game costs 24.99 euros on Steam, but so far has only received mixed reviews there.
Out of 4,400 votes, only 55% are positive. While there is a lot of praise for the gameplay, players are bothered by bugs, performance issues, and even placeholder texts from beta.
At its peak, 47,370 players have played simultaneously. This number could be broken again today on Sunday.
Icarus feels more like an “Early Access” title
What do players say about Icarus? The general consensus in the reviews is that while Icarus shows many good approaches, it feels more like a game in Early Access. For example, the user Joe from Colorado writes after 15 hours of playtime (via Steam):
This is an early access title being marketed as a “full version” with bugs from previous betas still present, and features in the crafting menu labeled as “coming soon.” The performance is nowhere near optimized (as it should be for a full-fledged game). […].
To the developers: I appreciate the effort you’ve put into this game so far, and I admit it’s a fun game. It’s not your fault; the project leaders have left you in the lurch and rushed it out for the Christmas sale. It’s a shame they are releasing the game as a full version.
Many opinions of players, whether the review is positive or negative, read similarly to this review. Because there is praise for almost all aspects of the gameplay, including:
- The diverse missions that must be completed within a fixed time
- There is a lot to collect and craft
- The various skill and crafting trees are said to be very extensive, requiring real decision-making
- The need to search for food and water is said to be present but not so excessive that you live in constant fear
- The graphics are generally well-received
Criticism, on the other hand, is given for:
- Performance issues and FPS drops
- A very slow download time
- Problems and disconnections when playing with other players
- Mobs are said to have unusual pathing and can walk up mountains at a 90-degree angle
- The housing is said to still offer too few meaningful functions beyond workbenches
Another point of criticism lies in the endgame, which some beta players say can become quite repetitive. Steam user Würger criticizes this in his review but also states that the criticisms are too harsh (via Steam):
To be honest, I was very critical of the game after I completed the first (very pleasant) 10-20 hours of gameplay (in the beta). As I approached the 40th to 50th hour as a pure solo player, I began to feel the repetitions of the gameplay mechanics (having to rebuild everything from scratch repeatedly).
What I want to say is that I am certainly no fanboy. But these very negative reactions towards the game are not fair. It is not a bad game. It does have some weaknesses. Some of them are even so profound that I am unsure if the developers really want to improve them, as that would require a lot of work. But anyway, the game does not deserve to receive so many negative reviews […].
I would advise fans of the genre to maybe wait 2-3 months and then buy the base version.
Who is Icarus interesting for? Icarus is not a survival game where you stay in one place for a long time and build a base, like in Rust or Ark. You get a specific mission, complete it within a given time, and then return to the space station.
This results in a certain gameplay loop that you always experience, including building your own base. This is more akin to strategy games than classic survival games. In doing so, you always unlock new technologies and skills, which can feel rewarding.
However, it seems that Icarus is still in an unfinished state, as almost all reviews confirm.
Many reviews recommend “The Forest” as an alternative to Icarus. It is currently experiencing a resurgence:
7 Year Old Survival Game Suddenly Becomes a Hit on Steam – Over 30,000 Players
