Stranded: Alien Dawn

Haemimont Games

Rank: #1 / 13
Released: 2023
Studio: Haemimont Games
Genre: real-time strategy

At a glance

Stranded: Alien Dawn is a survival strategy game from Haemimont Games about a small group marooned on an alien planet. You guide the survivors as they face hunger, illness, severe weather and hostile creatures, making decisions about their needs, health and happiness. Build a camp into a defended base, grow and hunt for food, gather resources and salvage materials from fallen space debris. Research technologies to broaden what the group can do, and provide heat, light and relaxation devices to help keep survivors prepared. The world includes varied flora and fauna, while weather and environmental events can change conditions. The game’s challenge comes from limited resources and recurring threats, so the base and its defences need to develop as the group encounters new dangers. It is a single-player game with Steam Workshop, achievements, Steam Cloud and full controller support. It is listed for Windows and Xbox Series X|S; Steam lists Windows, with a release date of April 25, 2023.

Who it is for

It suits players who enjoy managing a vulnerable group, building a base and balancing food, health and morale against changing threats. Its single-player strategy format also fits players who want to research, gather and defend rather than focus on multiplayer.

What is good

Manage survivors’ needs, health and happiness.
Build and improve a base with defences.
Grow, hunt, gather and salvage resources.
Research technologies to expand capabilities.
Steam Workshop and full controller support are listed.

What to know first

The listed Steam mode is single-player.
The world features illness and hostile alien creatures.

Verdict

Stranded: Alien Dawn combines survivor management with base construction and defense on a dangerous planet. Its appeal rests on planning around limited supplies and environmental and creature threats.