On the beginning of Surviving Mars Surviving Mars Guide & Walkthrough

Last update: 21 March 2018

What should I focus on after launching Surviving Mars for the first time? This page provides many useful tips that will help you during your first encounter with the game.

• Dont build important building close to each other
• Search for surface resources
• Take care of your colonists
• Analyze anomalies
• Research technologies
• Build batteries, water towers, and oxygen containers
• Upgrade your buildings
• Define your game style
• Make sure that you have enough drones
• Check the encyclopedia
• Resource deposits are not infinite
• Do not build independent power supply circuits

Dont build important building close to each other

This is especially true for power, oxygen and water generators. A single meteor strike or a dust devil could shut them down for a long time.

Search for surface resources

Metals and polymers can be found in a form of rocks on Mars. Use a RC transporter to extract them.

Take care of your colonists

Death by unnatural cause can end your mission. Satisfying your colonist's needs is also very important - if you don't fulfill one of his/her requirements, the colonist may refuse to work and cause problems. If that happens, you will need to build a Security Station and hire officers. If things get even worse, colonists may become Earthsick and want to return to Earth.

Analyze anomalies

Whenever it is possible and your RC explorer is charged and ready to go. This activity will always grant you benefits, e.g. additional research points.

Research technologies

Technology is key to success in this game, and without it, your colony won't survive long. New technologies will facilitate resource production, improve living conditions of your colonists, reduce building upkeep costs, and will let you build new facilities.

Build batteries, water towers, and oxygen containers

If a malfunction of buildings responsible for resources production takes place, you will have more time to deal with the problem. You will keep a steady flow of all the basic resources and what is more important, your colonist will remain happy.

Upgrade your buildings

It's common that once you research a technology that improves production, you will still have to manually upgrade your buildings. Select the right building in the upper right corner, next to the name of the building, and you should see a new icon available. That's where you can proceed with your upgrades.

Define your game style

This will affect the choice of your sponsor and Commander Profile, and extraction of rare metals. You will use them to produce electronics. Decide, whether you want to rule a self-sufficient colony, or export rare metals back to Earth and receive additional funding.

Make sure that you have enough drones

Drones are your basic units, and one of the first that you control. They are responsible for building new objects, building maintenance and resource transport.

Check the encyclopedia

The game has its own encyclopedia and offers information on all the building, game aspects, and mechanics. Use it to make your gameplay easier.

Resource deposits are not infinite

Press LMB on a deposit to check its amount. Use this trick to calculate whether or not it's worth to invest in extraction. The Breakthrough Technology - Nano Refinement can be very useful - all Extractors continue to extract small amounts when their deposit is depleted.

Do not build independent power supply circuits

The game does not inform you in which circuit power shortage has occurred. Use the switch to divert power supply. Connect your infrastructure with cables. The same goes for water and oxygen supply systems.