Quirky Strategy Game “Mars Attracts” Is Set for Its Debut Playtest

While designing your usual array of rollercoasters, carousels, and food stalls can be plenty of fun, the most intriguing tycoon games and theme park simulations take you on a journey few others do. Jurassic World Evolution, for instance, adds an exhilarating prehistoric twist to the mix. Yet, the upcoming management game Mars Attracts might just be the oddball of 2025, and your first chance to dive into it is just around the corner.

Unveiled earlier this year during Gamescom, Mars Attracts was definitely a head-turner among next year’s upcoming PC titles, eliciting reactions of disbelief. Picture a Planet Coaster-style adventure, but set on Mars, centering around an old and mostly forgotten intellectual property that came from a late 1990s box office bomb. Yes, you guessed it—Mars Attacks—was a star-studded, dark comedy about an alien invasion. Now, to see it re-emerge 25 years later as a theme park simulator is nothing short of peculiar.

However, let’s not jump to conclusions that Mars Attracts will share the same lackluster fate as its cinematic predecessor. In this game, you’ll be tasked with building a theme park catering to Martian tourists. While you’ll include exciting rides, a unique twist involves creating enclosures and themed exhibits showcasing kidnapped humans. For once, the tables are turned, and humans are the attractions.

These unfortunate individuals hail from significant historical periods, from Ancient Rome to the Wild West. This means each human is unique, and you’ll need to craft enclosures adept at containing these varied individuals. A mere Martian glass cage, for instance, might not suffice to restrain a group of fierce Roman gladiators!

You have the option to either keep your human exhibits content and at ease, or opt to frighten them – and yes, this might involve some probing. Whichever route you choose, your alien visitors are bound to be entertained.

Beyond curating the ultimate Martian amusement park, there’s the task of managing it. The core gameplay so far mirrors what you’d expect from a typical tycoon game, but since we’re catching just an early glimpse with only one trailer released, there could be plenty more surprises along the way.

To aid Outlier, the developer, in creating a superbly quirky management sim, you have the chance to be part of the initial playtest kicking off very soon.

The closed alpha test for Mars Attracts is set to begin on Wednesday, December 4, with plans for an early access release sometime in 2025.

If building and crafting is your thing, you’ll find something to love with our guide to the best building games. For more challenges to your multitasking and management prowess, browse through our selection of the best strategy games.

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