I have spent some time in this recently, and can now say it is a good game - highly recommended.

Astroneer is an exploration / expansion game with some minor survival elements (very few...) in the later stages of early access, the game should be completed sometime this year.

You start out on a planet with only a mineral extractor tool, and you need to collect resources, research base building and more equipment. This includes building space shuttles and travel to different planets in the solar system, as they have different resources.

However, the main focus is on exploration, which has some elements of danger you need constant supply of energy and oxygen to survive. You get oxygen by either having oxygen tanks, traveling in a vehicle or is connected to a network of tethers that you need to build and expand as your exploration expands. But for me the main fun is exploring the huge cave networks, finding the resource nodes and hidden secrets within them.

There is very little hand-holding, and as yet no true end goal expend continuous expansion and exploration. However, it is fun, interesting and gets the exploration just right, as I still find new and interesting things. Being tied to an oxygen source may sound limited to start with, but it actually forces a slower exploration / expansion making you take your time. It is not a fast game, but is better for it.

You can play it in co-op, if this is your thing, but I do not and there is more than enough for me to do yet.

Website - https://astroneer.space/
Steam page - https://store.steampowered.com/app/361420/ASTRONEER/

Wishlist - https://www.gog.com/wishlist/games/astroneer

I realize they are not the same type of game, but as far as the subject matter goes how do you think it stacks up to Kerbal Space Program? Like if you were going to give out an award for best astronaut game, which one of them would you pick.

If the question is "what is the best astronaut game"? then the answer has to be Kerbal - that's what it is, an astronaut and space flight simulator.

If the question was "what is the best exploration game" or "what is the best base building game" or "what is the best survival game" - then it would be Astroneer

yes, you are right, they are very different games, and very different genres - very different to compare.

Looks interesting! Is it procedural? Is it singleplayer or multiplayer?

it is yes yes yes

the logo for the website is very similar to borderlands 1 - they should be sued!

I guess Astroneer is more comparable to Planet Nomads than KSP. Now which of the two games is better, Astroneer or Planet Nomads?

Just to try and further clarify my question, I was not asking for what game was better. I really meant something more along the lines of what game made better use of the subject matter, or what game scratched your space exploration itch more. I think is perfectly valid to compare the games based on things like that.

Sorry, I didn't mean to criticize you. I'm just curious what makes Astroneer different or better than Planet Nomads. Just so I know for which game I should save money for. :)

the problem is that the "subject matter" between those games are so different and it is in itself a very vague term. what do you mean by "subject matter"? what exactly are you looking for?

edit - its a bit like saying that I'm looking for a demon killing game, how does Diablo stack against Doom?

I could be jumping to wrong conclusions, but I thought both games are about astronauts going into space and building vehicles, and stations and things like that. They also both look to be more inspired by real life NASA type space stuff, as opposed to Sci-fi space stuff. Gameplay wise, they are very different, but they look to have very similar subject matter to me.

To try and explain what I mean, lets say I have a mech fetish (i actually do). Armored Core, and Front Mission are two completely different types of games. AC is an action game FM is turn based strategy. They both scratch the itch though. I may not be able to say what game is overall better, but I can say what does the better job of scratching the mech itch. This is an opinion of course, but for me Front Mission probably does a better job. The mechs in AC feel pretty light, while in Front Mission they seem to have a lot more weight, and I like my mechs to feel heavy. It makes me bark at the screen.

So what im asking for is not a fact, but your opinion on what one of the games works better for you when it comes to to the subject matter.

if the subject matter is mech fetish, then go Kerbal - that's where its at. it is all about building rockets and spaceships that can get you into space. it is space exploration as in real life NASA terms, with real maths and physics. it gives you tons of parts to use, and you do not have a character. There is no base building.

Astroneer is all about having character, it is exploration of a planet looking for resources while surviving and expanding your base. it is about research and resource management. there are few parts and machines to use an put together, building is more utilitarian than explorative. it is not NASA, physics are not real. I haven't played Planet Explorers, so can't comment. However, there are no moving enemies or animals in Astroneer, and you do not have any weapons.

I'm pretty sure you still don't understand what I mean, but you managed to answer the question anyway. What I was asking seems simple enough to me, but I'm autistic. My brain just thinks a little different, so occasionally communication breakdowns happen. Thats probably whats going on here.

Well, to be honest, I had seen a few plays of this, and they ended with the same problem. You quickly ran out of content in the game. I see according to the wiki, progress is slow.