Minecraft is one of the most successful video games of all time, and with a second film on the way as well as spin-offs, that success is sure to continue for the foreseeable future. An ideal sandbox, Minecraft sets players free to build whatever they desire, and its blocky art style, mobs, and mechanics have all managed to become iconic. Naturally, a handful of games like Minecraft have appeared over the years that attempt to build off its success from high-profile attempts like Hytale to niche Steam games that fly under the radar. One particular Steam title, Astromine, is worth watching for any Minecraft fans with a fondness for outer space.
However, while a focus on crafting and survival will certainly get Minecraft fans’ attention, as will the blocky character models, that’s not the only game that Steam users could be reminded of when giving Astromine a look. The game also boasts some clear similarities to No Man’s Sky from flying to and landing on various planets to mining resources via a laser tool. The way players gun down resource-filled trees or dig using the tool is hugely reminiscent of the moment-to-moment exploration in Hello Games’ ambitious title. And while the polish of Minecraft and No Man’s Sky(now) is hard to compete with, Astromine offering a fully voxel-based solar system could give the game the hook it needs.
Astromine
- PLAY solo or in co-op with up to 4 players.
- EXPLORE procedurally generated worlds with unique alien life, resources, and environmental hazards.
- DESTROY everything, with voxel tech used to create everything from trees and wildlife to the crust of the planets themselves.
- FIGHT rival robots to secure a fortified base within each world.
- BUILD your ideal bases and spaceships to expand your control of the universe.
- Astromine is targeting a 2026 release window.
…a survival mining game about scavenging fully destructible planets… Land on planets and gather enough materials to fight off alien creatures, fight robot factions, build structures and spaceships, and conquer the solar system.
Astromine’s Voxel System and No Man’s Sky-like Exploration is a Match Made in Heaven
A lot of Astromine feels like modern No Man’s Sky and its approach to co-op gameplay. Groups land on a planet together, mine it for resources using laser guns, and use said resources to build bases or new starships to better traverse the game’s solar system. The visual of digging down into planets looks a whole lot like the caving in No Man’s Sky, and procedural generation should allow for plenty of variety in the environments themselves. However, what sets this particular open-world crafting game apart is its voxel design and the destruction that comes along with that format.
Astromine advertises that players can destroy literally everything, and it means it. In No Man’s Sky, there are some barriers: players cannot completely decimate a planet, as they’ll eventually hit indestructible bits of rock. In this game, though, players can destroy everything in their hunt for resources, giving them the option to choose whether to tunnel into the core of the planet or simply mine what is absolutely necessary to leave it intact for a player-made base. With everything in the environment being destructible, no two Astromine universes will look the same.
Find the odd one out before the timer hits zero.
For those curious, Astromine’s voxel technology even applies to its extraterrestrial life. When battling alien creatures, players will actually see the impact of their shots on them. Pixelized blood is just part of the equation, as chunks of flesh and armor will be whittled away with every burst of gunfire. As players cut through the meat of the voxel aliens, they’ll be able to find weak points, speeding up the fight. A giant crab covered in multiple eyes is just one of the foes shown, and with all players focusing fire upon the monster and jumping around it, the battle resembles a proper boss fight. And, fortunately for those who love sci-fi action in games, alien encounters aren’t the only kinds of battles they’ll come across in Astromine.
Astromine’s Robot Outposts Have Major Minecraft Vibes
Rather than tasking players with a peaceful goal like reaching the center of the universe, Astromineplaces groups in the shoes of robots at war for control of the galaxy. Which side of the conflict is justified is irrelevant, as all that seems to matter is securing more territory. To expand that reach, players will need to take outposts from the AI-controlled hostiles on each planet. Players will have to plan their attacks carefully, disabling power sources for a sneaky approach, lasering down walls to attack from unique angles, and so on. Essentially, these bases resemble the Woodland Mansions and Pillager outposts that have been part of Minecraft for years, and they’ll likely make players similarly raise their eyebrows whenever they’re found during a bout of exploring.
Astromine’s visuals are closer to Minecraft than they are to No Man’s Sky as well. Sure, the planets are spherical and not everything is made of blocks, but the robot player models, some of the aliens, and the general aesthetic (not to mention the game’s title) could all make players think of Mojang’s wildly successful game. Add on some proper physics that goes beyond what’s seen in either of its influences—bases crumbling under weak foundations is an example—and it’s clear that Astromine is aiming for a healthy mix of re-used ideas and fresh concepts. Assuming it still releases within its target window, Astromine could be another standout addition to a packed 2026.
