How to play guide for Occupy Mars: The Game

This article is a stub. You can help Occupy Mars: The Game Wiki by expanding it.

WARNING : This article currently contains information that was relevant to the BETA playtest and has not yet been updated for Early Access Release. The information contained in it may no longer be relevant. You can help Occupy Mars: The Game Wiki by verifying and updating it.

This page will serve as a basic how to play guide for Occupy Mars: The Game. While there is very little information available at this time, we urge you to check back often, as new information is being added all the time! Feel free to edit this guide with any tips, tricks, and suggestions.

Basic gameplay[ | ]

UI & Controls[ | ]

User Interface[ | ]

At the bottom of the screen, in the middle, you can see the compass, which, alongside with the map, will assist your sense of direction.

The compass is surrounded by 6 hotbar slots for items you can quickly access via hot keys.

At the bottom left corner you can see: your profile name, your current source of oxygen (your suit tank vs. oxygenized interior), your altitude above sea level, gauge bars showing amount of available oxygen inside and outside your suit, respectively, and your health and stamina When looking closely at an object, this area may display some info about it, if available. Above this area may appear icons for extreme personal conditions (such as sleep deprivation). The suit battery discharge indicator may also appear here.

At the bottom right corner, there are gauge bars for your satiation ("hunger") and hydration, and info about… your current objective? (FIXME) Above this area may appear icons for extreme natural conditions (such as a temperature drop, or a sandstorm).

At the top of the screen, in the middle, are displayed: the current temperature around you; your heart rate; the current time and day of the week; the number of days survived (Martians call days "sols"). To the left of this area will appear icons for your received and accumulated technological points, which are used to progress through the Tech Tree, unlocking new items, buildings and vehicles.

To the sides of the screen top, you can find the current game version, and hints for hot keys.

Player Controls[ | ]

W - Forward

S - Reverse

A - Left

D - Right

C - Crouch

Shift - Run

Space - Jump

V - Toggle 1st and 3rd Person View

Mouse - look around and change direction
Left mouse button (LMB) - select ( hold to drag items in workshops)
Middle mouse button (MMB) - hand slot selection wheel (hold, move mouse to highlight a slot, release)
Mouse wheel - zoom in and out in 3rd person view
Right mouse button (RMB) - cancel; select for information on the map

Other Quick Keys

E   - Interact (same as LMB)

1-6 - Equip/Unequip items from the hotbar slots

TAB - Open Tablet

M   - Open Radar/Map (Tablet)

I   - Open Inventory

B   - Open Build Menu (Tablet)

T   - Open Tech Tree Menu (Tablet)

=   - Equip/Remove Helmet

Vehicle Controls[ | ]


  W = Forward

  S = Reverse 

  A = Left

  D = Right

  V = Toggle 1^st and 3^rd person view 

TAB = Toggle Driving and Crane controls

To open door, place mouse pointer on door and click left mouse button.
To drive rover, place mouse pointer on drivers seat and click left mouse button.

To use the Crane while sitting in the driver's seat, press TAB. The Crane will automatically start up and be fitted with the grapple if it was stowed. You can then choose to use the camera located on the screen or switch to the third person view (V). Use the mouse to move the Crane around. Middle mouse button extends and retracts the Crane's boom. Left mouse button opens and closes the grapple. Once over a rock you can pick up, you can do it manually with the mouse, or when you see the green cross over the rock, press E to activate the automatic pickup and load function.

Tips and tricks[ | ]

Batteries wired inline (in series). One cable from the transformer to the input of the first battery then the output from #1 to the input of #2 battery and so on. Having 9 batteries wired this way then the final battery to the HAB has kept power through all sandstorms, nights, etc with extra left over.

Recharge your suit's oxygen (O₂) directly at the oxygen port on the Oxygen tank if it has O₂ stored there.

Fill O₂ bottles at the CO₂ Scrubber inside the HAB and Workshop by opening the glass door and pressing the "Fill Bottle" button. Do not forget to pickup the green bottle that has appeared it the bottom left of the scrubber's glass enclosure. This requires a non-full oxygen bottle in your inventory. CO₂ Bottles may be filled in the same manner.

To set the best O₂ production in the CO₂ scrubber, use the knob on the left (outside glass enclosure) twice, the knob on the bottom right once, and the two levers in the middle.

When building the entrance to the base, always remember to build two airlocks. This will prevent depressurization of the room.

The electrical power, water, fertilizer, and soil supply can be adjusted at the equipment's control panel for Incubators, Hydroponic Shelves, Fields, and Domes.