Stationeers

Stationeers - The Game

At its core, Stationeers revolves around creating and managing functional space stations or outposts on various planets and moons. Unlike many survival games, the focus is on automation, engineering, and realistic physics rather than just staying alive. Players are tasked with building space stations or outposts that are self-sustaining. Using tools like welding torches, crowbars, and drills, players can assemble walls, floors, and various machines. Materials like steel, iron, and glass are required to build airtight bases that protect from the external environment. In space, oxygen and temperature regulation are critical. Players must design and manage systems to provide breathable air, regulate temperature, and scrub CO2 from the atmosphere. These life support systems involve gas pipes, filters, and power generation systems that must be carefully balanced. Bases rely on power, which can come from solar panels, generators, or batteries. Players must set up these systems and ensure they supply enough electricity to power everything from life support to automated machinery.

Automation is one of the most defining features of Stationeers. Using a system of logic circuits and programmable components, players can automate many of their base’s functions. Whether it’s automating the production of oxygen or creating an automated mining rig, players have the freedom to design intricate systems that make their stations more efficient. Using sensors and logic gates, players can set up airlocks that automatically cycle to prevent pressure loss when entering or leaving the base. By setting up HVAC systems and temperature sensors, players can automate cooling and heating systems for different parts of the base. Advanced players can create assembly lines or factories that produce necessary items without manual intervention, from oxygen canisters to food.

Resource management is central to survival in Stationeers. Players need to gather, process, and use resources wisely to keep their stations running and their characters alive. Players can mine ores and materials from planets and asteroids using mining drills, portable machines, and even automated mining rigs. These materials include iron, gold, copper, coal, and silicon, all essential for crafting tools, building structures, and producing power. The game’s mining mechanics are relatively realistic, with weight and storage limits playing a big part in how much you can carry at once. Players will need to carefully balance resource gathering with their need to return to base for oxygen and food.

Once materials are mined, they need to be processed in furnaces or smelters. Each resource requires a specific temperature and pressure to smelt properly, adding a layer of complexity to crafting. For example, smelting steel requires careful control of the environment in the furnace, as it's easy to overheat or underheat materials, leading to wasted resources. Players can craft tools, equipment, and building materials using fabricators and 3D printers, which must be connected to power and raw materials. These crafting systems are highly modular and customizable, allowing players to create everything from simple hand tools to advanced electronics.

While engineering is the game’s central theme, survival mechanics play a vital role in the experience. Space is a hostile environment, and players must manage basic human needs like oxygen, temperature, and nutrition while also dealing with external threats like radiation and meteor showers. The player’s base must have a controlled atmosphere, which means managing air composition (oxygen, nitrogen, CO2) and pressure. Leaks or unbalanced systems can cause oxygen shortages or high-pressure situations that may lead to explosions or suffocation. Airlocks help transition between external and internal environments without losing atmosphere. Players need to carefully manage airlocks with sensors, pumps, and logic circuits to prevent air loss during entry and exit. In the vacuum of space or on different planets, temperature extremes can be deadly. Players must set up heaters or coolers to maintain a livable environment inside their bases. External temperatures vary greatly depending on the planet or moon you're on. Some locations may experience freezing cold at night and extreme heat during the day, requiring the player to balance thermal insulation and power consumption for temperature regulation. Players also need to manage their nutrition by growing food using hydroponics or cooking meals using kitchen appliances. Water and food production can be automated but must be planned carefully as running out of supplies will lead to death.

The game world in Stationeers is vast and procedurally generated, offering players a variety of planets, moons, and asteroids to explore and settle. Each environment has its own unique challenges, such as gravity, atmosphere, and resources. For example, some planets may have breathable atmospheres, while others might have poisonous gases or no atmosphere at all. Players can construct their own spacecraft and travel between celestial bodies. Building a functional spaceship requires mastery of the game’s engineering systems, as it involves setting up engines, fuel systems, and life support for long journeys. Different planets have different resource distributions, so players will need to explore to find rare materials. Some materials might only be available on specific types of celestial bodies.

Stationeers supports multiplayer, where players can work together to build and manage a base. Cooperation is critical, especially when the division of labor is necessary for success. Players can take on different roles, such as Engineers, Miners and Scientists. In multiplayer, communication and cooperation are key, as players can get overwhelmed by the complexity of systems if they don’t work together efficiently.

Stationeers is a unique game that combines engineering, survival, and space exploration into a highly detailed and challenging experience. The game’s focus on realism and the need to carefully plan and manage complex systems makes it stand out from other survival games. Whether you're interested in building fully automated space stations or managing life support systems in a hostile environment, Stationeers offers a deep, rewarding gameplay experience that appeals to players who enjoy logic, creativity, and problem-solving. With its rich multiplayer options and a virtually limitless sandbox to explore, Stationeers challenges players to think like real space engineers while providing a sense of satisfaction as they overcome the harsh realities of space.