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| Image from the game Icarus showing a creature. |
The call of an untamed alien world is a powerful one for survival game fans. If you’ve ever dreamed of landing on a hostile planet, battling the elements, and scraping a fortune from the dirt, then Icarus has likely been on your radar. But with mixed reviews and a complex reputation, is it a hidden gem or a frustrating grind? We dove headfirst into its dangerous biomes to find out.
A Prospector’s Dream and Nightmare
In Icarus, you are not a hero. You are a prospector, dropped onto the planet Icarus with one goal: extract valuable resources and survive long enough to get rich. The planet is the star here—a sprawling, unforgiving PvE (Player vs. Environment) landscape of dense forests, arid deserts, and snow-capped mountains. Each zone is teeming with life, and almost all of it wants you dead. Wolves stalk the tree lines, bears dominate the woods, and even the weather is out to get you, with sudden storms and terrifying wildfire events that can wipe out hours of work in minutes.
The core loop is simple in concept, challenging in execution: land, establish a shelter, gather resources, complete missions, and evacuate before the planet kills you. Every element of the world is interactive. Every tree can be chopped, every rock mined, and every creature hunted for food and materials. This systemic design offers incredible freedom; your first humble wooden hut can eventually evolve into a sprawling fortified base, but only if you can manage the relentless dangers.
Tools for Survival: Tech Trees and Talent Builds
To help you tip the odds, Icarus offers deep progression systems. Survival hinges on three extensive tech trees (Construction, Industrial, and Solo), allowing you to craft everything from stone axes to electric furnaces. Complementing this are over 100 different talents across multiple specializations like Archery, Construction, and Hunting. Do you want to be a master trapper, a stealthy hunter, or an industrial tycoon? The choice significantly shapes your gameplay, encouraging replayability and diverse co-op roles when playing with friends.
You can tackle this world in two ways: through structured, session-based missions with specific objectives and time limits, or in a persistent Open World mode where you can build and explore at your own pace. The mission-based structure creates a palpable sense of urgency and risk—you’re racing against a literal storm clock—while Open World offers a more traditional, laid-back survival experience.
Ready to test your skills on this brutal planet? Icarus is available on Steam, and you can check out the store page and current player reviews directly here: Icarus on Steam.
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| An image showing the talents in the game Icarus. |
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| An image showing the game Icarus. |
The Verdict: A Diamond in the Rough (with Some Sharp Edges)
Now, for the critical question: should you buy it? There’s no ignoring the elephant in the room. Icarus has a "Mixed" rating on Steam (currently 73% positive), and the player feedback is essential context.
The Good: At its best, Icarus delivers a uniquely tense and rewarding survival experience. The planet feels alive and threatening, the building is satisfyingly granular, and the progression gives you tangible goals. The visual presentation, particularly the dynamic weather and environments, is often stunning.
The Caveats: However, players consistently note that the game feels incomplete without its DLCs, which add significant content like new maps and missions. The learning curve is notoriously steep; survival mechanics are complex and can feel punishingly opaque for newcomers. Perhaps most notably, the game has been plagued by bugs and performance issues since launch. While many have been patched, some persistent glitches can break immersion or hinder progress.
Bottom Line: A Sale Price Steal for the Right Player
This brings us to the ultimate deal. According to tracking data from SteamDB, Icarus is currently on sale for just $3.49 until January 5, 2026—its lowest historical price ever.
At this price point, the calculation changes dramatically. For less than the cost of a coffee, you’re getting a massive, content-rich survival game with hundreds of hours of potential gameplay. If you are a seasoned survival fan who enjoys deep systems, isn’t afraid of a grind, and can tolerate some jank, this is an absolute no-brainer purchase. The depth and scale offered for $3.49 are unparalleled.
For more casual players or those with low tolerance for early-access-style quirks, the criticisms remain valid. But if you’ve ever been curious about Icarus, this historic low price is the perfect, low-risk opportunity to strap into your drop pod and see if you have what it takes to conquer the planet.
👉 Explore the Icarus store page and read the latest community reviews to help you decide: Icarus on Steam.