Waking Mars

 iOS
Waking Mars Image
Metascore
84

Generally favorable reviews - based on 18 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
6.7

Mixed or average reviews- based on 12 Ratings

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  • Summary: In 2097, an expedition is sent into a cave on Mars to become the first humans to make contact with extraterrestrial life. They discover far more than they ever imagined and with time running out find they must make a crucial decision.

    Waking Mars is an action-gardening adventure in which    In 2097, an expedition is sent into a cave on Mars to become the first humans to make contact with extraterrestrial life. They discover far more than they ever imagined and with time running out find they must make a crucial decision.

    Waking Mars is an action-gardening adventure in which you cultivate an alien ecosystem and research mysterious lifeforms.    … Expand
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Waking Mars Official Trailer

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 18
  3. Negative: 0 out of 18
  1. Quarter to Three
    Apr 23, 2012
    100
    Waking Mars is just about the coolest new thing I've seen someone do with a side-scrolling Castlevania/Metroid exploration game.
  2. TouchArcade
    Mar 5, 2012
    100
    Spider was an amazing experiment in storytelling; Waking Mars raises the bar on quality in long-form iOS games. Neither should be missed under any circumstances. Get this game. Whether you adore it as I do or not, it's worth experiencing.
  3. AppSmile
    Mar 7, 2012
    90
    Just as Eufloria impressed us with its incorporation of naturalistic aspects into an RTS shell, Waking Mars has built its science fiction adventure around creating and cultivating plant life to reinvigorate the fourth rock from the sun.
  4. Impulsegamer
    Apr 11, 2012
    86
    Even with this failing, there is still a lot going for this game. The game is still a joy to play. The controls are intuitive while the graphics and music combine to form a claustrophobic, lonely atmosphere. In addition, the narrative is intriguing enough to keep you playing. Who would have thought that horticulture would be this much fun? Waking Mars is a game worth playing for its immersive and refreshing gameplay.
  5. 148Apps
    Mar 1, 2012
    80
    Waking Mars will be loved by fans of Metroidvania-style adventure games. Some of the backtracking can get annoying, but this is another fine title from Tiger Style Games.
  6. Hyper Magazine
    Apr 12, 2012
    70
    The awkward controls hold it back from greatness. [May 2012, p.29]
    All this publication's reviews
  7. Destructoid
    Mar 1, 2012
    55
    If you are looking for a relaxing adventure title with a distinct mood, Waking Mars will scratch that itch you've had since finishing Ghost Trick and Sword & Sorcery. Just take my advice and shut the game off once you start getting frustrated, because things don't get any better after that point (including the uneventful endgame).

See all 18 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 2
  3. Negative: 0 out of 2
  1. Osman
    Apr 19, 2013
    9
    I actually have the game for the Android operating system but since I could not find that version of the game on Metacritic I entered myI actually have the game for the Android operating system but since I could not find that version of the game on Metacritic I entered my review here.

    Waking Mars is a wonderful and creative game which portrays the efforts of a two-person team exploring lifeforms beneath the surface of Mars. The life forms are portrayed as several individuals in a complex ecosystem, a feature that I particularly note for it's creativeness. I feel like this game could be used to engage students in biology classes, at least in the respect that it would give them a (rough) idea of how lifeforms arise and how evolution provides a process for competing organisms to arise, which in turn creates ecological balance. I also feel that it provides a nice counter-point to standard sci-fi video game and movie fare which generally seems to portray nature as a violent, mystical, inexplicable and seemingly always opposed to the existence of man.

    If you are looking for a unique experience amongst the myriad of (often mediocre) independent video games produced for the iOS and Android operating systems I would give this game a try. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.    … Expand
  2. ksarkodie31
    Nov 26, 2014
    8
    Waking Mars is one of iPad greatest essentials, setting a new combination of adventure and plat former. It is one of the best on iOS and is aWaking Mars is one of iPad greatest essentials, setting a new combination of adventure and plat former. It is one of the best on iOS and is a true pioneer. 81/100… Expand

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Awards & Rankings

86
#86 Best iOS Game of 2012

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