Mars Odyssey

Mars Odyssey
Information
VR/AR	VR
Developer	Steel Wool Studios
Publisher	Steel Wool Studios
Platform	SteamVR
Device	HTC Vive
Operating System	Windows
Type	Full Game
Genre	Simulation, VR
Input Device	Tracked motion controllers
Play Area	Standing, Room-Scale
Game Mode	Single Player
Language	English
Review	Positive
Release Date	Sep 8, 2016
Price	$4.79
App Store	Steam
Website	http://steelwoolstudios.com/
Infobox Updated	09/15/2016

Mars Odyssey is a short VR simulation in which the player explores a recreation of the Martian surface. It was developed and published by Steel Wool Studios and released on Steam on 8 September 2016 for the HTC Vive under SteamVR.^[1]^[2] UploadVR described it as an experience rather than a traditional game.^[2] The Steam listing gives a play time of about 20 minutes.^[1]

Reviewed 9 October 2026. Checked developer, publisher, release date, VR support, play time, award note and review summary against the Steam page and API, and the gameplay details against the UploadVR article About review dates.

Overview

The player travels from an orbiting space station to the surface of Mars to repair equipment, according to UploadVR, and walks the terrain while interacting with models of NASA landers and rovers.^[2] The Steam listing states that the experience also covers the history and geography of the planet.^[1]

For movement, the game combines a teleportation system with room-scale tracking.^[2] Steam lists support for standing or room-scale play with tracked controllers, and the game is VR only and single-player.^[1] UploadVR reported that the developer used NASA engineering schematics, rover locations, and NASA's publicly available terrain and height map data for the surface.^[2]

Reception

The Steam page notes that the game was a runner-up for the Viveport Developer Award in the Explore category.^[1] Steam user reviews were rated "Mostly Positive" as of October 2026, based on 51 reviews.^[3]

Features

Single-player

System Requirements

Windows

Minimum

OS: Windows 8
Processor: Intel i5-4590 or greater / AMD FX 8350 or greater
Memory: 16 GB RAM
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 / AMD R9 390
Storage: 5 GB available space

Setup Instructions

Images and Videos

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 ^1.4 "Mars Odyssey on Steam". Steam. https://store.steampowered.com/app/465150/. Retrieved 2026-10-09.
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 ^2.3 ^2.4 "Mars Odyssey Gives You Another VR Trip To The Red Planet Today". UploadVR. 2016-09-09. https://uploadvr.com/mars-odyssey-gives-another-vr-trip-red-planet-today/. Retrieved 2026-10-09.
↑ "Mars Odyssey user review summary". Steam. https://store.steampowered.com/appreviews/465150?json=1&language=all&purchase_type=all&num_per_page=0. Retrieved 2026-10-09.

[steam-1] 1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 ^1.4 "Mars Odyssey on Steam". Steam. https://store.steampowered.com/app/465150/. Retrieved 2026-10-09.

[uploadvr-2] 2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 ^2.3 ^2.4 "Mars Odyssey Gives You Another VR Trip To The Red Planet Today". UploadVR. 2016-09-09. https://uploadvr.com/mars-odyssey-gives-another-vr-trip-red-planet-today/. Retrieved 2026-10-09.

[steamreviews-3] "Mars Odyssey user review summary". Steam. https://store.steampowered.com/appreviews/465150?json=1&language=all&purchase_type=all&num_per_page=0. Retrieved 2026-10-09.

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