Astrobotanica: Everything to Know About the Cozy Survival Game Set for Early Access in 2025

Astrobotanica is the highly anticipated debut game from Space Goblin Studio, an indie team composed of veteran developers with experience in blockbuster titles like Dead Island and Dying Light.

ASTROBOTANICA (2025) is an upcoming "cozy survival set on open-world prehistoric Earth."

"Discover Earth 300 thousand years ago as an alien biologist."

All of this has happened before. All of this will happen again. 😌 https://t.co/qVZL3ZWB3L pic.twitter.com/bmOPuuFmm1

— The Spaceshipper 🚀 (@TheSpaceshipper) August 31, 2024

Set to launch in early access in 2025, Astrobotanica promises to deliver a “unique blend of survival, exploration, and plant wizardry,” transporting players to a prehistoric Earth from 300,000 years ago where an alien botanist crash-lands in search of plant species to save their dying home planet, Aya.

According to Arkadiusz Woźniak, founder of Space Goblin Studio: “We’ve always wanted to play a game like Astrobotanica. We hope to bring new life to the survival genre by combining innovative gameplay with familiar themes. With gamers’ support, we’re sure we will craft Astrobotanica into a remarkable title while working towards future co-op features.

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Astrobotanica Differs From Dead Island and Dying Light Troupe

As mentioned in the heading, Astrobotanica offers a refreshing twist on the survival genre, blending familiar gameplay mechanics with a unique setting. Unlike Dead Island, Dying Light, and other typical survival games that often revolve around post-apocalyptic scenarios or harsh, barren landscapes, Astrobotanica drops players into a lush, vibrant version of Earth as it was 300,000 years ago, during the Pleistocene era.

There, players assume the role of Xel, an intelligent alien botanist from the distant constellation of Viridiana. For context, Xel’s mission is to find new plant species that could potentially thrive on their home planet, Aya, which is facing an ecological collapse due to irresponsible technological practices.

However, things quickly go awry when Xel’s spaceship crash-lands on Earth, leaving them stranded in an unfamiliar, hostile environment with a CO2-deficient atmosphere. The game challenges players to survive amidst wild animals, primal humans, and a world entirely alien to them.

Astrobotanica Resembles Games Like Stardew Valley

At its core, Astrobotanica is a cozy survival game reminiscent of beloved farming and exploration titles like Stardew Valley and Subnautica. For example, players will spend time cultivating, researching, and experimenting with various plant species to discover which could save Aya.

However, survival on Earth is no easy task. Players must learn how to grow and harvest plants in an environment that’s entirely foreign to them. Along the way, they’ll have to fend off hungry birds, nosy rodents, and other mysterious local creatures inhabiting the lush biomes of prehistoric Earth.

In addition to the flora, Astrobotanica also introduces players to the fauna of this ancient world. Primal humans, or Neanderthals, are also present in the game, and players can interact with them in various ways. Whether it’s healing them, earning their respect, or trading with them, these interactions add another layer of depth to the game.

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Astrobotanica Aims to Deliver A Meaningful Message

Astrobotanica isn’t just about surviving and exploring; it carries a hidden, meaningful message. The game’s story, which touches on themes of ecological responsibility and the consequences of technological abuse, feels particularly relevant in today’s world. As Xel embarks on their mission to save Aya, players will link the importance of preserving our planet and the delicate balance that sustains life.

While the full details of Xel’s gadgets and technology remain under wraps, the early glimpses we’ve seen suggest that the game will include a variety of tools to help players navigate the challenges of prehistoric Earth. For example, a scanner can help identify different plant species, and there may be a risk of accidentally poisoning oneself if consuming the wrong plants. Additionally, the CO2-deficient atmosphere presents a constant threat, requiring players to develop new technology to stay alive.

Lastly, while Astrobotanica starts as a solo adventure, Space Goblin Studio has hinted at future co-op features. It means you may eventually be able to team up with other players to explore, cultivate, and survive together.

Parting Thoughts

Considering everything mentioned above, with its unique premise, stunning visuals, and talented team of developers behind it, Astrobotanica is definitely a game to watch. For those intrigued by the idea of blending cozy gameplay with a survival challenge, you can wishlist it on Steam in preparation for its early access release in 2025.

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