Tharsis

 PC
Metascore
61

Mixed or average reviews - based on 23 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 17 out of 23
  3. Negative: 3 out of 23
  1. IGN
    Jan 20, 2016
    48
    Tharsis can never stop reminding you that you don't have control over its interstellar disaster, just the illusion of it. Every time I watched my ship fall apart, and every time I watched new events propagate across the ship that were completely impossible to stop, I felt like, win-or-lose, Tharsis was having all the fun.
  2. PLAY! Zine
    Feb 5, 2016
    45
    An interesting idea completely shattered by forming the whole gameplay around pure dumb luck. The dice in Tharsis will either make you or break you (mostly the latter), creating an unsatisfying experience only a true masochist could enjoy.
  3. PC Gamer
    Jan 13, 2016
    44
    Tharsis is well made, but not well designed—an attractive, interesting board game idea, but only the first draft.
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  1. Ars Technica
    Jan 14, 2016
    We admit that Tharsis lacks the key aspect that often makes dice-rolling board games so much easier to stomach: a way to include other friends' successes, failures, and diplomatic strides in the mix. Failure by luck always goes down smoother as a communal activity, after all. But we're not sure how well this game's design would adapt to multiplayer play. So long as you gird your single-player loins for that failing, you're in for the slickest board-game/craps-table hybrid to ever reach gamers' bloody, cannibalistic hands.
  2. Rock, Paper, Shotgun
    Jan 13, 2016
    It’s short, it’s brutal to the point of unfair, and I haven’t even mentioned half the things you need to manage, because I don’t wish to either spoil or overload you.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
4.7

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 58 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 58
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 58
  3. Negative: 28 out of 58
  1. Rtheom
    Jan 12, 2016
    4
    I really like the premise of this game, but this would be MUCH better as a tabletop game. Its almost weird that they made it a PC game.I really like the premise of this game, but this would be MUCH better as a tabletop game. Its almost weird that they made it a PC game. Unfortunately I have a very bad feeling that the reason the game is so difficult is not because they meant it to be, but because they're trying to cover up the fact there there is very little to it. If you like strategy games, pick it up if it drops to about $2 or less. Otherwise, this wasn't worth the $10 I paid (which was on sale from $15).… Full Review »
  2. TacoSalad
    Jan 16, 2016
    10
    This is a game for people that can think deeply and strategize. Tharsis is 100% skill based. The people that say it's just randomness couldThis is a game for people that can think deeply and strategize. Tharsis is 100% skill based. The people that say it's just randomness could not further from the truth. Events do drop randomly, but you can get yourself out of every situation.

    I do that a few issues with the game - but am still giving it a 10.    … Full Review »
  3. grobda
    Aug 15, 2016
    10
    Brilliant little dice game, very atmospheric and addictive. I love the way every statistic is important and the way the gameplay forces you toBrilliant little dice game, very atmospheric and addictive. I love the way every statistic is important and the way the gameplay forces you to make tough decisions based on random events. There is luck involved in the same way as any dice or card game, but the mechanics allow you to manage your misfortunes in a number of different ways, and you can plan strategically to avoid losing the ship. I beat the game on hard mode after 10 hours / 30 plays. After that easy mode is a doddle, but it's still fun to finesse and improve your leaderboard score. Best game I've played in 2016, after wading through plenty of AAA games that mainly do the same thing as older games but have prettier graphics.… Full Review »
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