Check out our Monthly Survey Page to see what our users are running.
We do often include affiliate links to earn us some pennies. See more here.

Maia from Machine Studios (Simon Roth), is a hard sc-fi base builder set on a hostile world. It released in full back in 2018 and now you can get a free copy for the next few days.

There's a full narrative campaign, standalone missions and custom sandbox modes that will test your ability to successfully manage a colony. This is no RimWorld though, it's a lot slower paced and quite difficult. Pretty too, with visuals that give you a retro future feel. Inspired by games such as Dungeon Keeper, Theme Hospital and The Sims mixing together lots of elements into a firmly unique experience.

YouTube Thumbnail
YouTube videos require cookies, you must accept their cookies to view. View cookie preferences.
Accept Cookies & Show   Direct Link

With a lot of simulation going on, it's quite impressive. Fires burn away crops, wild animals migrate around the planet and might make a wander colonist their next meal if you don't have some turrets around to keep them safe. I can't tell you the amount of times I've had lava flood into my colony when I've dug around a bit too much for resources.

Nice audio too with wonderful ambient tunes that were recorded using "real antique synthesisers onto tape giving it a rich and authentic science fiction feeling".

This is happening during the Lockdown sale on itch.io, where you can also donate to the developer if you like the game and what they're doing. You have until Saturday March 28, at 12:00 AM UTC.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
18 Likes
About the author -
author picture
I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly came back to check on the progress of Linux until Ubuntu appeared on the scene and it helped me to really love it. You can reach me easily by emailing GamingOnLinux directly. Find me on Mastodon.
See more from me
The comments on this article are closed.
4 comments

Nezchan Mar 24, 2020
I had really, really high hopes for Maia. Back when I bought it in Early Access, it looked so promising and the style really appealed to me. It's a pity that it turned out to be an abandoned mess, not updated (or bugfixed) since late 2018. I'm still seeing reviews that talk about poor pathing, colonists not following the build queue, and people randomly dying of exhaustion because they're standing next to a bed for days without actually getting in it and sleeping.

Still, free is a good price.
razing32 Mar 24, 2020
I remember seeing news the dev was still updating this.
Nothing since 2018 ??
Or is it just the itch version ?
scaine Mar 24, 2020
View PC info
  • Contributing Editor
  • Mega Supporter
Quoting: NezchanI had really, really high hopes for Maia. Back when I bought it in Early Access, it looked so promising and the style really appealed to me. It's a pity that it turned out to be an abandoned mess, not updated (or bugfixed) since late 2018. I'm still seeing reviews that talk about poor pathing, colonists not following the build queue, and people randomly dying of exhaustion because they're standing next to a bed for days without actually getting in it and sleeping.

Still, free is a good price.

Well, "late Dec 2018" is still just a touch over a year ago when it launched, so calling it an "abandoned mess" feels like a huge (and unnecessary) exaggeration. Liam's review agrees with you on AI, but then several other readers mentioned that they really enjoyed it. And as you say it's hard to argue with "free".

It's a great gesture, given that the dev poured nearly five years of his life into making this.
Swanny Mar 24, 2020
There's an interesting post release Patreon post by the author from last year. He basically needed to be a wage slave to earn some money for a while. There have been some new posts about a Maia expandalone with bug fixes being backported.
While you're here, please consider supporting GamingOnLinux on:

Reward Tiers: Patreon. Plain Donations: PayPal.

This ensures all of our main content remains totally free for everyone! Patreon supporters can also remove all adverts and sponsors! Supporting us helps bring good, fresh content. Without your continued support, we simply could not continue!

You can find even more ways to support us on this dedicated page any time. If you already are, thank you!
The comments on this article are closed.