Mars Attracts

Mars Attracts is based on the Mars Attacks universe, a property that originally began with the famous trading cards released by Topps in the 1960s before becoming globally known through Tim Burton's 1996 film adaptation. Anyone who has seen the movie will immediately recognize many familiar elements. The Martians still have their oversized heads, exposed brains, cruel behavior, and completely twisted sense of humor. The difference is that there is no global invasion taking place this time. The war is already over, and the aliens have turned humans into a tourist attraction. This shift in perspective is the game's greatest strength. Mars Attracts understands exactly what makes the franchise entertaining and builds its entire concept around it. Humans are studied, observed, displayed to the public, and frequently subjected to absurd situations that fit perfectly within the signature humor of Mars Attacks.

Mars Attracts is a refreshingly weird take on the park sim genre, equal parts management and dark comedy. It’s clever in premise and satisfying in execution: building the perfect, perverse little martian museum is weirdly rewarding. If you enjoy sims that let you tinker, experiment, and occasionally lose your moral compass for the sake of a high-earning exhibit, this one’s worth a trip to the red planet. Keep your tinfoil hat ready and your research grants closer. Outlier has built a mischievous little game that’s a lot more fun than I really could have imagined. Ack! Ack! I give Mars Attracts the Thumb Culture Gold Award!

Overall, Mars Attracts is a charming, darkly comedic twist on the park-building genre that manages to be both approachable and engaging. It balances humour, strategy and management in a way that keeps you invested in wanting to play the game and become the biggest park on Mars.