Survival games often promise harsh worlds, but few follow through as relentlessly as ICARUS. When it first launched on PC in 2021, it established a unique identity by combining session-based survival with persistent progression—a structure that rewards risk and punishes complacency. Now, with ICARUS: Console Edition, that experience is available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, including years of updates and the substantial New Frontiers expansion from the start.
The result is a dense, demanding survival experience that feels more complete than ever—yet remains unapologetically unforgiving.
A Hostile World, Fully Realised
From the moment you land on the surface of ICARUS, the message is clear: this is not a world made for you. It is a failed terraforming effort, a planet that resists human presence at every turn.
What makes ICARUS stand out from many survival games is how actively hostile its environment feels. This isn’t just a backdrop – it’s an adversary. Lightning storms can destroy carefully built bases, wildfires spread unpredictably, and toxic conditions force you to constantly adapt.
The addition of the New Frontiers expansion greatly enhances this aspect. The Prometheus region introduces alien biomes that feel quite different from the forests and mountains of the base game. Volcanic zones, swamplands, and distorted ecosystems provide both visual variety and new gameplay challenges.
These environments aren’t just visually different – they require new strategies. What succeeded in one region might fail completely in another, reinforcing the game’s core idea: adaptation is survival.
Survival by Design
At its heart, ICARUS is about preparation. Each descent onto the planet is a self-contained mission, whether you’re managing timed contracts, exploring in open world mode, or experimenting in outposts.
This session-based structure remains one of the game’s most notable features. Unlike traditional survival games where progress is largely persistent, ICARUS requires you to start fresh with every mission—gathering resources, crafting tools, and building shelter from the ground up.
This system creates a sense of tension. Time limits on missions mean you can’t afford to become too comfortable. You’re constantly balancing exploration with the need to extract before conditions become overwhelming.
For some players, this will feel refreshing—a break from the endless grind of other survival titles. For others, it may seem repetitive, especially when rebuilding similar setups across multiple missions.
Depth Through Systems
Where ICARUS truly shines is in its layered systems. Crafting, resource management, and progression are deeply interconnected.
The tech tree enables you to progress from primitive tools to more sophisticated equipment, while the talent system promotes specialisation. Whether you concentrate on hunting, building, or survival skills, your decisions influence how you approach each mission.
The orbital workshop introduces a longer-term progression element. By collecting exotic matter—one of the game’s most valuable and dangerous resources—you can unlock permanent upgrades that persist across missions.
This creates a compelling cycle: risk more to gain better tools, then use those tools to face even greater challenges. It’s a satisfying structure, but one that requires patience and strategic planning.
Console Adaptation
Bringing a system-intensive survival game like ICARUS to consoles is no small challenge, and overall, this version manages it well.
The controller interface has clearly been improved, with radial menus and simplified controls making navigation easier. Crafting, managing inventory, and building all feel functional, though not always as smooth as they would be with a mouse and keyboard.
There’s an inevitable learning curve, especially for new players. The game doesn’t guide you step-by-step, and its systems can seem overwhelming initially. However, once you get used to it, the controls become instinctive.
Performance remains stable across both PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Frame rates stay steady, even during more chaotic moments with weather effects or large-scale construction. Visuals are striking, with detailed environments and dynamic lighting boosting immersion.
Solo vs Co-op
ICARUS can be played solo, but it’s obvious that co-op is where the game truly excels. With up to four players, the experience becomes more lively and, crucially, more manageable.
Allocating roles—such as one player focusing on building, another on hunting, and another on gathering resources—creates a sense of teamwork that boosts both efficiency and enjoyment.
Playing solo, though possible, is considerably more demanding. The inclusion of a solo talent tree helps to balance this, but the experience remains intense. Every task rests on your shoulders, and mistakes have greater consequences.
The absence of cross-play is a notable downside, especially in a game that benefits greatly from cooperative play. It restricts accessibility and may divide the player base across different platforms.
The Cost of Realism
What makes ICARUS compelling is also what makes it difficult to recommend universally.
Its systems are intricate, its pacing can be slow, and its challenge is often unforgiving. This is not a game designed for casual play sessions or instant gratification.
There are times when the realism borders on frustration. Losing progress due to an unexpected storm or misjudgment can feel punishing, especially in longer missions. Rebuilding after failure is part of the design, but it can test patience.
Additionally, the repetition inherent in the session-based structure may not appeal to everyone. While each mission provides variation, the core loop remains consistent.
A More Complete Experience
The advantage of ICARUS: Console Edition is that it arrives as a more complete package. Years of updates, improvements, and the inclusion of New Frontiers make this the most refined version of the game to date.
There’s a sense of cohesion that may have been less apparent at launch on PC. Systems feel more balanced, content is more plentiful, and the overall experience benefits from the time spent evolving.
For console players, this is the ideal way to experience ICARUS.
Final Verdict
ICARUS: Console Edition offers a challenging and highly rewarding survival experience that hinges on tension, preparation, and adaptation. It features a level of systemic depth that few games in the genre can rival, set in a world that feels genuinely hostile and alive.
However, it isn’t without its challenges. Its complexity, difficulty, and repetitive structure may not appeal to everyone, and the absence of cross-play is a missed chance.
For those willing to dedicate time and effort, ICARUS provides something unique—a survival game that not only tests you but also compels you to think, plan, and adapt at every stage.
It’s a brutal world. But that’s precisely the point.
