Aven Colony asks players to build a colony on Mars, feed its population, and keep everyone alive through droughts, dust storms, and sabotage. The 2017 strategy game for PS4, PC, and Xbox One landed with mixed reviews, and its critical score sits at 7.3 out of 10.
Trailer, via IGDBcom.
The Colony Grid
Players lay down modules — power plants, farms, housing, roads — across a grid of hexes. Each module connects to others, and the game tracks resources like food, water, and energy in real time. That system is the core of Aven Colony, and it mostly works.
Resource Management
The numbers matter. Aven Colony expects players to watch food intake, water reserves, and energy output constantly. Missions ask for precise balance, and the game punishes neglect fast. A colony running low on food can starve within minutes if the player does not act.
Building Chains
The best moments come when chains of buildings click together. A solar farm feeds a water purifier, which feeds a greenhouse, which feeds housing. Watching those connections form is the game’s quiet strength.
Missions and Objectives
Aven Colony leans on missions to push the player forward. Some missions reward efficiency; others punish failure. The game’s difficulty curve is not smooth, and some missions demand repeated attempts before the player understands what they need to do.
The Colony Screen
The main screen shows the entire colony at once, with resource bars and warning lights. It is easy to see where a problem starts, though harder to fix it quickly when the game runs at a lower frame rate on console.
Console Performance
Performance issues were a common complaint on PS4 and Xbox One. Frame drops happen during busy colony screens, and the game’s pace slows when the colony grows large. On PC, performance holds up better, but the console versions struggle with load times and stutter.
Learning the System
The early hours of Aven Colony are confusing. New players spend time figuring out what each module does, how resources flow, and what the mission objectives mean. Once the system clicks, the game opens up, but that initial confusion costs the game points.
What Works
- Real-time resource tracking keeps players engaged
- Building chains reward planning and foresight
- Missions add variety to colony building
- The colony screen offers a clear view of the whole settlement
What Falls Short
- Difficulty spikes make some missions frustrating
- Console performance issues slow the experience
- Early confusion costs the game its momentum
Aven Colony is a solid strategy game that asks for patience. Its systems are sound, but the learning curve and performance issues hold it back. Players who stick with it will find a rewarding experience, but the game’s rough edges keep it from greatness.
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