Atmosfar, an open-world survival game set among floating islands, has launched into Steam early access. Players navigate this world in customizable, propeller-driven airships, exploring large islands that feature NPC settlements and diverse ecosystems. These environments range from rainforests to meadows inhabited by various creatures, offering resources for crafting and materials like hydrogen crystals for fuel.
The game encourages players to gather resources for crafting at deployable campsites. However, the developer notes that some players are already attempting to play against the intended grain, seeking to explore areas beyond what the game's technology may currently support.
Atmosfar's early hours involve a tutorial path and NPC interactions necessary for unlocking key equipment, such as a jetpack. The game presents scattered islands that can distract from objective markers, with the HUD's clarity sometimes being an issue. The design of each island aims to be engaging, even smaller ones that might have been secondary development focuses.
The survival mechanics, including resource extraction and inventory management, are noted as conventional. Many initial missions involve repetitive tasks like transporting materials between locations and the player's airship or camp. The game also features NPC scavengers who primarily serve as quest-givers. A larger constructible airbase, the Cloud Cruiser, is a potential late-game objective.
Some players have reported pushing the game's boundaries by descending into unadorned, formless areas beneath the main playable space. These descents have reportedly strained the game's technology, leading to visual glitches and environmental boundary resets. These unexplored regions, potentially generated procedurally or hand-crafted, appear to exist outside the core gameplay loop.
Atmosfar is expected to remain in early access for at least nine months. The game is available on Steam, with options for cooperative play, which may facilitate exploration and resource gathering.
