The Solus Project

 PC
Metascore
68

Mixed or average reviews - based on 27 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 27
  3. Negative: 2 out of 27
  1. Hooked Gamers
    Jul 1, 2016
    90
    Survival games seem to be a dime dozen recently, but The Solus Project is doing enough differently to earn its place in gamers’ libraries.
  2. GameSpew
    Jun 16, 2016
    90
    If you’ve ever dreamed of exploring a new world on your own and experiencing all of the mystery and terror that experience implies, The Solus Project is pure wish fulfillment of the highest quality.
  3. Gamer.nl
    Jul 5, 2016
    85
    The Solus Project is simple but hard, there is not a clear story, but at the same time there is so much history. The survival part might be a bit too simple, but exploring the world makes up for that.
  5. COGconnected
    Jun 18, 2016
    85
    It was a wonderful surprise to find out how good the game was and how quickly I became engrossed it. You really feel like a solitary stranger in a strange land. This one has tons of atmosphere.
  6. Games Master UK
    Aug 21, 2016
    80
    A unique and worthwhile offering in a genre that all too often feels by the numbers. [Aug 2016, p.83]
    All this publication's reviews
  7. games(TM)
    Jul 29, 2016
    80
    A brave, different twist on the survival genre. [Issue#176, p.80]
    All this publication's reviews
  8. The Games Machine
    Jul 5, 2016
    80
    An incredible and endearing journey through the mysteries of the alien planet Gliese-6143-C, the last hope for mankind. There are some problems with the interface and the writers drags the last chapter a little bit out, but overall it's a journey worth being experienced.
  9. Worth Playing
    Jun 29, 2016
    80
    In the end, The Solus Project is a fascinating game that is more about exploration than survival.
  10. Eurogamer Italy
    Jun 23, 2016
    80
    The Solus Project is an alien creature in the survival games genre, a well-crafted adventure in which the atmosphere and the plot is more important than the survival elements. Hourences and Grip Games manage to create a dense universe and a compelling lore to immerse yourselves in.
  11. Areajugones
    Jun 16, 2016
    80
    The Solus Project is an exploration game that wakes up the survival instinct in every player. Amazing landscapes, a great background and changing weather are some of its strong points. If you enjoy the exploration games, this one will not disappoint you.
  12. GameStar
    Jun 10, 2016
    80
    If you like exploring, this is for you. If you prefer survival games, don't expect too much.
  13. IGN Spain
    Jun 9, 2016
    78
    We are in a new planet all by ourselves. Are we alone? We have to survive, but our only way is to discover the secrets of a planet which can be spectacular and creepy as well.
  14. Multiplayer.it
    Oct 4, 2016
    75
    The Solus Project has many highs and many lows but is definitely worth a try if you love science fiction, exploration and adventures.
  15. Vandal
    Jun 28, 2016
    75
    It has its ups and downs, but in general is a interesting adventure that fans of the genre will enjoy.
  16. CD-Action
    Sep 17, 2016
    70
    The Solus Project finds the right balance between adventuring and survival and sometimes is a real joy to look at, but tends to remind you too often that it is just a game. [09/2016, p.56]
    All this publication's reviews
  17. IGN Italia
    Jun 12, 2016
    70
    Exploration, survival, crafting, puzzles. In The Solus Project, none of these elements touches heights of excellence, but otherwise the game is not bad at all.
  18. We Got This Covered
    Jun 6, 2016
    70
    Despite mechanical discord and an unsatisfying story, the creepy atmosphere and gargantuan spectacle of The Solus Project is worth experiencing firsthand.
  19. Pelit (Finland)
    Oct 11, 2016
    68
    The Solus Project aims for old school gameplay, but the result is bland and forgettable. Its story, puzzles and occasional horror elements are clichéd, and survival aspects are both lackluster and easily overcome. Exploration of a new world quickly turns into dull routine. [Sept 2016]
    All this publication's reviews
  20. GRYOnline.pl
    Aug 17, 2016
    65
    The Solus Project - an interesting space survival adventure - has a truly magnificent, magical, diverse and very interesting world. It's definitely the biggest asset of this game. The gameplay calls back to some old-school mechanics and does it pretty well. Shame that the storyline and characters are so weak. Still - fans of Interstellar should give it a go.
  21. PLAY! Zine
    Jul 6, 2016
    65
    The Solus Project is a mixed bag. With vast landscape to explore and eerie, tense atmosphere it is an adventure worth taking, if only there were no plot holes and somewhat weird design decisions.
  22. Gameblog.fr
    Sep 15, 2016
    60
    The Solus Project is a mix between wonderment and disappointment. The artistic direction is awesome and the atmosphere has been fine tuned, but the survival mechanics are not deep enough.
  23. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Jul 12, 2016
    60
    The Solus Project doesn´t amaze with its gameplay and the game tries to bury all the potential, what its beautiful environment offers. Fortunately, the burial wasn’t completely successful. [Issue#265]
    All this publication's reviews
  24. PC PowerPlay
    Aug 18, 2016
    50
    Survival mechanics obscure an otherwise competent but uninteresting adventure. [Issue#253, p.62]
    All this publication's reviews
  25. Games.cz
    Jul 18, 2016
    50
    Beneath an interesting exterior and catchy atmosphere is hidden a lot of shallow schemes. The Solus project is neither a real survival nor a puzzle game.
  26. GameSpot
    Jun 29, 2016
    50
    It's a disappointing game with a lot of missed potential, and it doesn't convey a good story or the rewarding feeling of surviving against the elements.
  27. Riot Pixels
    Jul 12, 2016
    49
    A beautiful, unnecessarily protracted, empty shell of a game.
  28. 4P.de
    Jul 22, 2016
    37
    It wants to be a survival tale. It wants to be a storytelling experience – but in the end it is neither. The survival aspect is one-dimensional, while the rest of the content seems disconnected. [Tested with Rift and Vive]

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
6.7

Mixed or average reviews- based on 57 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 30 out of 57
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 57
  3. Negative: 14 out of 57
  1. LuckyLuky
    Jan 8, 2017
    9
    Incredible story, graphics and atmosphere. A game for an adult audience who likes sci-fi. Not for the pew-pew cod kids. Very good frame ratesIncredible story, graphics and atmosphere. A game for an adult audience who likes sci-fi. Not for the pew-pew cod kids. Very good frame rates and great weather efects.… Full Review »
  2. Indrigis
    Jun 13, 2016
    4
    The Solus Project claims to be a survival experience, but survival is not much of a problem. Food and water are abundant, a solution to coldThe Solus Project claims to be a survival experience, but survival is not much of a problem. Food and water are abundant, a solution to cold weather (aka night) is to take a good 10-hour nap, and during lengthy thunderstorms lightning will consistently hit you for 20% of your health regardless of cover. Although there are only a handful of patrolling enemies, traps are plentiful but, again, simplistic and only hidden by darkness.

    The hero's greatest enemy is the game designer. Although the game is set in the 22nd century, one of the two most useful pieces of human technology available to the player is a metal tube covered in some alien roots and soaked in rocket fuel. This creates a torch that heats the player, lights up the surroundings and burns forever (seriously, it's permanent. It never requires more alien roots or fuel). The other useful piece of technology is a personal teleporter, borrowed in its entirety from Unreal Tournament. Apart from that there's no long range optics, no radar or local map, nothing that would be fitting for an interstellar planetary explorer. At least there's a PDA which can scan objects in the world, providing helpful hints like "Rock, heavy, multi-purpose" (useful for putting on buttons) and "metal tube, tool, very good!" (two required across the entire playthrough) and translate alien writings on the walls.

    However, all of that could be forgiven for a good plot or decent exploration. The Solus Project has neither. The plot is extremely straightforward and, regrettably, disconnected from the gameplay. No matter how many tablets you decipher, the protagonist never acknowledges that in his/her reports and acts as if he/she never knew what was going to happen. The exploration is tedious and mostly useful for artifacts (+1% to some resistance) and vanity items, having no real influence on the survival part.

    As a first attempt at making a game, The Solus Project is quite decent. But even in that price category there are better, much more polished and interesting games.    … Full Review »
  3. simesi
    Aug 23, 2016
    9
    This is a particular game, if you don't love the exploration don't buy it.
    IMO I loved everything in this game: the atmosphere, the music,    This is a particular game, if you don't love the exploration don't buy it.
    IMO I loved everything in this game: the atmosphere, the music, the caves, the weather, the story.
    This was a really emotional adventure and I was searched for it    … Full Review »
See all user reviews »