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Per Aspera

Per Aspera

Tlön Industries · released Dec 3, 2020

IndieSimulationStrategy

Make Mars your own! Take control of the world’s most sophisticated AI (AMI) and terraform the surface of the Red Planet for a city-building experience on a planetary scale. Transform this barren world into a lush paradise and explore the surface for any ancient secrets that may be waiting.

Steam page ↗OpenCritic ↗
71
VGC Score
■Stablehigh confidence

anchored at patch: “Hyperloop Bugfixing and Resource Stock QOL update” (3mo ago)

66%
At launch
76%
Steam all-time
80%
Press
76%
Recent sentiment

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.

ComponentPositiveQuality (0-100)Weight (pseudo-reviews)
Press reviews (OpenCritic)–8014
All-time Steam reviews76%711000
Metacritic user ratings––0
Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted)76%7176
Calibration prior (typical game)–7250

Scoring window: since the last significant patch (May 12, 2026) · 76 reviews sampled · 68 total reviews in window · weighted 46.2 up / 14.6 down · computed 3h ago · full methodology →

Press & Creators reviews (21)

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.

  • 100
    Jump Dash RollJump Dash Roll
    trust 76Dec 3, 2020

    “Per Aspera is not only the best city builder to come out in the past decade, but one of the most interesting games to grace computers in a long, long time.”

    read full review ↗
  • 50
    Cubed3Cubed3
    trust 70Nov 22, 2022

    “While building a Mars colony is a neat theme for a city builder, how that was executed in Per Aspera is underwhelming. Lots of time is wasted on simply waiting, and when you get to issue some orders there's not much in the way of thinking very hard about them. It's… okay, but that won't suffice.”

    read full review ↗
  • 70
    PC InvasionPC Invasion
    trust 69Dec 3, 2020

    “Per Aspera reaches for lofty heights, but I could never shake the impression that the difficulties I encountered were more because of the game breaking down rather than Mars being a hostile place. But who knows, patches do wonders these days.”

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    GameWatcherGameWatcher
    trust 69Dec 7, 2020

    “Terraform Mars in this narrative driven planetary scale base builder”

    read full review ↗
  • 90
    Chalgyr's Game RoomChalgyr's Game Room
    trust 67Dec 23, 2020

    “Overall, I really love Per Aspera. It is a fantastic game that keeps players on their toes. Unlike other colony builders, players feel a connection to the colonists and to the mission. It is a spectacular game like no other and I absolutely adore it. Per Aspera has amazing audio and voice acting that are well suited to the title and I can't get enough of it! For me, there are some minor UI issues, but I give Per Aspera a 9 out of 10. Do yourselves a favor and buy it now. Take out the weird aliens. The mission depends on it!”

    read full review ↗
  • 70
    TheSixthAxisTheSixthAxis
    trust 65Dec 3, 2020

    “A compelling take on a Martian colonisation and terraforming project, Per Aspera also comes with a gripping mystery to unravel as you fight to survive and thrive. There's some muddled pacing and it's not always how you can proceed, but this is a thoroughly enjoyable sci fi planetary sim.”

    read full review ↗
  • 85
    PC GamerPC Gamer
    trust 64Dec 4, 2020

    “Hard science, harder simulation, and narrative innovation make Per Aspera a real gem.”

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    TechRaptorTechRaptor
    trust 63Dec 3, 2020

    “Per Aspera is a stunningly realistic "planet builder" in which you play as an AI tasked with terraforming Mars. Although its pace is sometimes slow, it is an extremely educational game with a surprisingly deep and touching story.”

    read full review ↗
  • 79
    Serial Gamer ItaliaSerial Gamer Italia
    trust 63Dec 8, 2020

    “For Aspera it is a complete management game from all points of view, managing to offer rich and articulated dynamics that the game itself struggles to keep up with towards the mid-game. Despite this, the challenge offered by the title is decidedly durable, compelling and satisfying, a must for all those who are passionate about this genre, especially if sensitive to the gloomy charm of space.”

    read full review ↗
  • 70
    Screen RantScreen Rant
    trust 61Dec 7, 2020

    “A detailed yet challenging city builder, Per Aspera keeps players entertained with subplots and objectives while they collect resources.”

    read full review ↗
  • 70
    But Why Tho?But Why Tho?
    trust 58Dec 7, 2020

    “Per Aspera is a unique planetary simulation game that brings a narrative, exploration, and even combat to the genre. There is plenty to do with tons to build in Per Aspera as you get to experience terraforming and colonizing Mars that is based on real-life science. I really enjoyed this game and think there is plenty of potential for this game as it continues its life cycle and things are only going to get better.”

    read full review ↗
  • 85
    DualShockersDualShockers
    trust 58Dec 8, 2020

    “Per Aspera is a haunting sci-fi simulation in which you play as a lone AI tasked with terraforming Mars for human colonization.”

    read full review ↗

…and 9 more tracked reviews.

Patch history

  1. Datamodel for modding
    May 28, 2026
  2. Hyperloop Bugfixing and Resource Stock QOL update
    May 12, 2026significant · resets scoring window
  3. Patch notes - Endgame fix
    Apr 9, 2026
  4. Per Aspera 4th Anniversary
    Dec 4, 2024significant · resets scoring window
  5. Per Aspera HOME 1.8.2 is now LIVE!
    Mar 27, 2023significant · resets scoring window
  6. 'Home' 1.8.1 Patch
    Feb 2, 2023
  7. Home Release Patch
    Jan 23, 2023significant · resets scoring window
  8. Performance Update
    Aug 22, 2022significant · resets scoring window
  9. Patch V.1.7.2
    Jun 4, 2022significant · resets scoring window
  10. Patch V.1.7.1 Hotfix
    May 9, 2022
  11. Blue Mars Release Patch
    May 2, 2022significant · resets scoring window
  12. V.1.6.3 Patch Update
    Mar 30, 2022
  13. Update 1.6.1
    Mar 15, 2022significant · resets scoring window
  14. Per Aspera Online Co-Op Beta Now Available!
    Mar 5, 2022
  15. Co-Op Multiplayer Beta
    Mar 5, 2022significant · resets scoring window
  16. Update 1.5.2
    Dec 3, 2021significant · resets scoring window
  17. Advanced Branch Patch 1.5.2
    Dec 1, 2021significant · resets scoring window
  18. V.1.5.1 Patch is here!
    Nov 8, 2021
  19. Adv. Branch Patch v.1.5.1
    Nov 5, 2021significant · resets scoring window
  20. Green Mars Free Expansion is now available
    Oct 21, 2021significant · resets scoring window
  21. V.1.4.5 Patch is here!
    Sep 24, 2021
  22. Adv. Branch Patch v.1.4.5
    Sep 14, 2021significant · resets scoring window
  23. V1.4 Hotfix 3
    Aug 4, 2021
  24. Adv. Branch Patch #7 - Mod Workshop
    Jul 1, 2021
  25. v1.3 Hotfix 2
    Jun 17, 2021
  26. Post Launch Retrospective
    Jun 3, 2021significant · resets scoring window
  27. Content Update #3: District Planner - Out Now
    May 26, 2021significant · resets scoring window
  28. Adv. Branch - Patch #6 Notes
    May 13, 2021significant · resets scoring window
  29. Content Update #2: Improved Logistics
    Apr 3, 2021significant · resets scoring window
  30. Advanced Branch Patch #5
    Mar 29, 2021significant · resets scoring window
  31. Patch #6 is out now!
    Mar 10, 2021
  32. Advanced Branch - Patch Notes #4
    Mar 5, 2021
  33. Content Update #1: Treat That Water - Out Now!
    Feb 11, 2021significant · resets scoring window
  34. Advanced Branch - Patch #3 Notes
    Feb 10, 2021significant · resets scoring window
  35. Adv. Branch Patch #2 is out!
    Feb 5, 2021significant · resets scoring window
  36. Patch #5 is live now!
    Jan 19, 2021significant · resets scoring window
  37. Introducing our first Advanced Branch patch!
    Jan 14, 2021significant · resets scoring window
  38. Patch #4 is out today! Here's what's new.
    Dec 18, 2020significant · resets scoring window
  39. Patch #3 is live! Read the notes here.
    Dec 11, 2020significant · resets scoring window
  40. Patch #2 Out Now - And a word on the future of Per Aspera
    Dec 5, 2020significant · resets scoring window

…and 1 earlier patch announcements.