Solarpunk, a Two-Developer Survival Game With No Combat, Launches to 'Very Positive' Steam Reviews After a Kickstarter That Raised 10x Its Goal
Cyberwave's floating-island survival-crafting game shipped June 8 on PC and consoles, drawing favorable reviews for its weather-driven energy systems and criticism for thin late-game exploration.
Editor's Note ·
- Correction:
- The article quotes Steam as showing "80% of the 1,222 user reviews for this game are positive." The Steam store page captured at review time showed 1,225 user reviews, not 1,222. Steam's review counter updates continuously; the 1,222 figure reflected the count when the article was written. The "80% positive" share and the "Very Positive" rating are unchanged.
Overview
Solarpunk, a first-person survival-crafting game set across a world of floating islands, released on June 8, 2026, according to its Steam store page. The game is the work of Cyberwave, an indie studio described by KeenGamer as having two developers, and was published by rokaplay and Metaroot, per the Steam listing. The launch arrives roughly three years after a Kickstarter campaign that raised about ten times its target.
What We Know
Steam classifies Solarpunk as a “Survival game in a technologically advanced world of floating islands,” where players “construct buildings, grow food, craft gadgets and explore distant islands,” according to the Steam page. The same listing notes the game can be played “Alone or together with 4 friends.”
A defining trait is the absence of fighting. “There is no such thing as combat or even hunting” in the game, KeenGamer wrote in its review. GameBrief framed the design the same way: “The game has zero combat. Pressure comes from energy management, food, and weather: not enemies.”
That pressure is built around a weather-driven power grid. Steam describes the system as one where players “Generate electricity using wind and solar energy,” and where “Weather conditions affect how much energy you produce,” per the Steam page. GameBrief detailed the mechanics: “Solar panels go dark at night. Wind turbines spin down in still air. Hydraulic generators only run near water.” Food is the other core constraint, with Steam noting that “Growing fruits and vegetables is your main source of food.”
The project was crowdfunded years before release. On Kickstarter, the campaign drew €305,267 against a €30,000 goal from 6,312 backers, according to the tracker Kicktraq. GoNintendo reported the same 6,312 backers and described the result as “more than 10 times its goal.”
Reviews at launch have been broadly favorable. The Steam page shows a “Very Positive” rating, with “80% of the 1,222 user reviews for this game are positive.” Critic scores landed in a similar band: KeenGamer awarded 8/10, while GameBrief gave it 7.0/10. The game carries a $22.99 price, per KeenGamer.
A console version is also available. PS4Blog.net, reviewing the game on launch day, wrote that “Solarpunk is out today on Nintendo Switch with a $22.99 price tag” and scored it 7.5/10, calling it “a first-person cozy survival game set in a technically advanced world of floating islands.”
What We Don’t Know
The published reviews surface a recurring caveat about pacing. GameBrief cautioned that “Island variety thins past the 20-hour mark,” and concluded the game is “Worth buying if you want cozy logistics and don’t need combat or strong narrative.” KeenGamer likewise noted that “no combat can feel aimless for certain players.” Whether Cyberwave’s post-launch updates extend the late game enough to address those concerns remains to be seen.
The studio has not publicly detailed long-term content plans in the sources reviewed here, and total sales figures had not been disclosed at the time of writing.