Build a new home beneath Mars

Ares Program is a single-player, 2D colony survival simulation that combines underground base building with tactical control of individual colonists in combat. Lead a small group of survivors below the Martian surface, where every room you excavate and every pipe you connect becomes part of a growing underground settlement.

Dig, build and expand

Explore procedurally generated terrain with distinct geological layers. Mine resources, organize hauling and construct living spaces, farms and industrial facilities. Shape your colony one tile at a time.

Keep your colony alive

Oxygen, heat, water and electricity are connected parts of daily life. Route gases and liquids through pipes, store supplies in tanks and build power networks. Temperature, heat transfer and changes of state make the environment something to understand and manage.

Draft your colonists and defend the colony

Survival is also about protecting the people who keep your base running. Draft individual colonists or a group, give move and attack orders, and fight armed raiders. Terrain cover, line of sight and body-part hits affect combat. Injuries cause pain and reduce working ability; rescue incapacitated survivors and provide bed rest and medical treatment. Difficulty and colony wealth influence raid strength. This first combat foundation is playable and continues to evolve.

Look after individual survivors

Assign priorities and schedules to colonists with their own names, appearances and skills. Balance work with food, sleep and other needs, and manage the happiness and stress of the people keeping your colony running.

Grow food and develop industry

Cultivate potatoes and hydroponic crops, cook meals and keep production supplied. Process raw materials, smelt metal and research new facilities as your settlement develops.

Read the systems around you

Use overlays to inspect gases, liquids, temperature, power and sunlight. Follow the flow of resources through your base and adjust its layout as your needs change.

Development and release goals

Combat and colony defense are a major focus for Early Access and the full release. We plan to expand weapons and equipment, improve enemy behavior and raid variety, and refine aiming, cover, injuries, rescue and treatment balance alongside survival, research and production. These are development goals and may change with player feedback.

Interfaces are available in English, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Russian and Spanish (Spain).

Ares Program is currently in development. Screenshots and footage show the development build; content, balance and presentation may change before release.