Screenshots & trailers
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 74 | 8 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 84% | 78 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 86% | 80 | 2 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 7 reviews sampled · 7 total reviews in window · weighted 4.8 up / 0.8 down · computed 3h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (15)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 83
“Though it isn’t the perfect space game, it’s a pretty darn good one. It gives you so much to think about, but it never feels overwhelming thanks to the three difficulty settings. A casual player will have a great time with the Explorer setting, whereas fans of resource management games who love to strategize will enjoy the Veteran setting. The game is also educational and a great way to get newcomers interested in space.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Memorialized in books, movies, and television shows, the space race is one of the most significant triumphs of both science and human will ever...”
read full review ↗ - 65
“Its systems are light enough to not be overwhelming, and even if they become too much for you, a well-defined tutorial does a good job of holding your hand as you get a grasp of things. The core problem and one that brings this down from a great game to simply fine is just how little control you get over actual launches. If there was more agency in that side of things, then this would be a no-brainer recommendation.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Very realistic game about history and near future of cosmonautic. Amusing expeditions in space.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“It’s a fun game with some incredibly deep managements options to consider, and it’s the kind of thing that sim nerds are going to love. You’ll find yourself committing to a loop of “just one more bit” and easily lose hours to Mars Horizon if you’re not careful. It also feels fairly educational thanks to the partnership with the European Space Agency. I don’t think I can be an astronaut yet, but with a few more hours in the game maybe I can manage it.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“You’ll grind your teeth when you’re the last man on the moon, but the more you persist, the more Mars Horizon pulls you in. If you’ve got even the slightest interest in the Space Race, this is one of the most engaging ways to experience it.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Mars Horizon is a game that anyone who ever wanted to be an astronaut dreamed of having. The ambient music sets the tone for players as they set off the uncover the Solar System. This is by far one of the hardest games I’ve had to review in that on the surface this game looks so simple and monotonous, but as you break it down you get to unravel all the challenges and complexities it has to offer.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“I’ve been so tough on Mars Horizon. Know that I’m sorry about that. I was more deeply invested in getting to Mars than I’ve been in a ton of other games this year, so know that it comes from a place of adoration and a desire to see some quality of life improvements to a phenomenal game. If you love space, get this game. If you want to learn about the processes behind space exploration, get this game. I genuinely hope the developers make some of these improvements, but even if they don’t, Mars Horizon has been a joyride I won’t soon forget.”
read full review ↗ - 65
“Sadly this is not Kerbal Space Program. Mars Horizon concentrates on economy (somewhat like the old Buzz Aldrin’s Race Into Space) and you need to be a die-hard fan of tycoon games to truly enjoy it. Also, it could have been better in many aspects, including the visuals. Its 2D graphics are decent, but when the game goes into primitive 3D, it reminds me of 2001. [01/2021, p.74]”
- 80
“A space agency simulator which overcomes its PC roots and primitive presentation to become a highly addictive and original strategy game. Packed with space facts and sprinklings of humour, Mars Horizon is a joy to dip into for both young and old and your thumbs can rest while your brain takes over.”
read full review ↗ - 55
“I had a lot of fun researching for the next big thing in Mars Horizon, but a lot less due to all the technical issues with the PS4 version.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“After an eventful and enticing beginning, Mars Horizon falls of quickly and loses itself in its repetitive nature. Dedicated space cracks will find satisfying aspects in the realistic astronautics simulation.”
read full review ↗
Nintendojo
Nindie Spotlight
NintendoWorldReport
SECTOR.sk
The Indie Game Website
GameSpew
But Why Tho?
Hey Poor Player
CD-Action
PlayStation Universe
Gamer's Palace
PC Games…and 3 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- New Patch notes June 2022Jun 22, 2022
- Daring Expeditions Bug Fixes detailsJan 21, 2022
- Mars Horizon Daring Expeditions Update now live🔴Jan 11, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- Mars Horizon's update coming soon, plus Rosetta Mission anniversary stream 🚀Nov 8, 2021significant · resets scoring window
- Fix for pink screen on MacAug 6, 2021
- The huge Expanded Horizons update is out NOW!Jun 22, 2021significant · resets scoring window
- Mars Horizon - 1.0.3.6 Patch NotesFeb 19, 2021
- Mars Horizon - 1.0.2.2 Patch NotesNov 23, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- Mars Horizon page updateMar 17, 2020
- We are off to Mars! (sort of....) and an update!Jun 22, 2019