Mars Attracts stands out as a theme park management simulation game that blends strategy and adventure elements, all wrapped in the quirky universe of the cult-classic Mars Attacks. In this Early Access title for PC, you step into the role of a Martian CEO tasked with building a thriving amusement park on the red planet. The twist? Your main attractions are humans abducted from various historical eras, displayed in enclosures for Martian tourists to gawk at. With a focus on balancing profit, guest satisfaction, and some ethically dubious experiments, the game delivers a fresh take on the sim genre that appeals to fans of creative building and light-hearted chaos.
Gameplay
The core loop revolves around abducting humans from different time periods, such as Ancient Rome or the Wild West, using advanced Martian tech. Once captured, you design and customize enclosures to mimic their natural habitats, ensuring their needs are met to keep them content. Humans come with unique personalities, so tailoring environments to their preferences is key; neglect this, and you might face disruptions like an angry captive causing havoc in your park.
Beyond enclosures, you construct death-defying rides, shops, and amenities to draw in Martian guests and generate revenue. Financial management plays a big role, as you handle staff, budgets, and expansions while aiming for profitability. A standout mechanic involves studying or experimenting on your human exhibits, which can boost guest entertainment or unlock insights, adding a layer of strategic depth. The game encourages experimentation, whether optimizing layouts for efficiency or pushing boundaries to see how far you can go without breaking your attractions.
Game Modes
Mars Attracts offers a campaign mode structured around scenarios that challenge you to build and manage parks under specific conditions, progressing through levels with increasing complexity. These scenarios test your ability to adapt to constraints like limited resources or unique objectives, providing a guided experience.
For those who prefer unrestricted creativity, the sandbox mode lets you build freely without predefined goals, allowing full control over park design and human management across multiple maps. This mode suits players who enjoy experimenting with layouts and mechanics at their own pace.
Key Mechanics and Features
One of the game's unique aspects is the abduction system, where you select humans from historical eras and integrate them into your park. Managing their happiness directly impacts guest satisfaction and your bottom line. Staff management involves hiring and assigning Martian workers to maintain operations, while research elements let you delve into human behavior through probes and tests.
The building tools are intuitive, supporting detailed customization of enclosures with terrain, decorations, and interactive elements. Multiple maps provide varied environments, and the Early Access build includes solid foundational systems like construction and guest flow optimization.
Is It Worth Playing?
With a Very Positive rating on Steam from 195 reviews, where 92% are positive, Mars Attracts has garnered praise for its humor and inventive premise. Players appreciate the blend of theme park management with the absurd Mars Attacks theme, making it a strong pick for sim enthusiasts seeking something unconventional.
If you enjoy strategy games that involve building, resource management, and a dash of dark comedy, this title delivers engaging content even in its Early Access state. The developers plan to expand with new maps and amenities over the next 9-12 months based on community feedback, suggesting ongoing improvements. For fans of similar sims, it's a worthwhile addition that stands out through its thematic flair, though those sensitive to bugs in early builds might wait for full release.
