Skyward Survival: A New Era in Open-World Exploration Awaits!

More than a year after it surpassed its Kickstarter target 10 times over, the open-world survival crafting game Solarpunk has launched a demo as part of Steam Next Fest. It quickly became the most-played survival game during the event, offering “1-2+ hours of gameplay” ahead of the official release, slated for later this year according to its Steam listing.

Solarpunk is described as a popular survival game primarily influenced by its setting: a fragmented world of floating islands. You can enhance your home and efficiently optimize your basic farm, for sure, but also pilot airships to distant regions in search of rare resources, harness renewable energy from wind and weather, and construct elevated off-island platforms for additional space or special uses. As someone who has been captivated by floating islands due to numerous JRPGs, Solarpunk’s interpretation of the survival-crafting genre resonates with me.

“This demo provides an initial look into Solarpunk, but there’s so much more coming!” the developer Cyberwave mentions in a Steam announcement. “Some features and items are not yet incorporated, and multiplayer is still under development. Your input is vital in helping us enhance and broaden the game!”

What does the demo entail? Cyberwave has shared a list of what players can expect:

• Craft your initial tools, cultivate plants, and start building your base
• Utilize the construction system to create your first home
• Navigate your airship and explore the world from above
• Leverage sustainable energy with solar panels, wind turbines, and more
• Experience a dynamic weather system that influences gameplay

This has been quite an impressive Next Fest for survival games overall. I was particularly enchanted by the Cubic Odyssey, a mashup of Minecraft and No Man’s Sky, which features far more weapons than I expected, along with an anticipated number of spaceships.

Solarpunk is currently targeting PC as well as consoles.

This survival horror Steam Next Fest demo does not mind that its puzzles are challenging me because it understands I will stick around for the perfect Silent Hill vibes.