The new base building game on Steam looks satisfying with extra emphasis on combat and trains

Open world survival crafting and base building games are very popular Steamwith some of the greats like Satisfactory, Subnauticaand Factorio they represent shining examples of the genre. As the genre has flourished over the years, Steam has seen a massive influx of games that build on the mechanics created by these highly regarded titles. While some have had more success than others, it's usually the games with a unique twist on the basic gameplay loop of survival, crafting, and base building that stand out the most.

ExoTrain from developer Harpoon Games is an upcoming entry in the genre that aims to join the ranks of these titans with its train hook. While it doesn't yet have a firm release date, the Steam page for ExoTrain it lists a Q3 2026 release window, putting it on the market somewhere between July 1st and September 30th. If there is no significant delay, it is possible ExoTrain could end up being one of the best survival games in 2026 and serve as a real contender Subnautica 2.

ExoTrain features at a glance

• Fight for survival against hostile alien wildlife

• Open world exploration

• Mine resources while defending the exercise from enemies

• Creating materials from collected resources

• Upgrade the train as a home base

• Solo and cooperative play options

ExoTrain allows players to explore a ruined planet by train

Assumption ExoTrain sees the players making their way across the planet in ruins after expecting to arrive there to start their new job for Exoplanet Industries. Instead of finding an inhabited planet, players will only discover ruins filled with hostile wilderness. They have to explore what's left of the colony to get the resources they need to survive, starting from basically nothing and building their way to a more survivable game-like environment such as Subnautics.

The main part ExoTrainThe player's identity is the titular train itself, which acts as the player's home base and serves as their primary means of traversal while exploring the planet. While ExoTrain typically features an isometric gameplay perspective, riding the train to new areas of the planet shifts the camera to a top-down view. Players can also switch back to an isometric perspective and move their character around the train as it moves, allowing them to access storage and upgrades on the fly.

Upgrading the titular ExoTrain is the key to survival

The train is more than just a mode of transport ExoTrainand upgrading its components is the key to survival. Players will be able to build various modules for the train to help them in their crafting progress, including a research station, weapon crafting station, and storage chests. Game fans like Satisfactory will quickly recognize the importance of upgrading these features, as they often hold the key to accessing more complex crafting trees that act as gateways to progression.

Combat is an important aspect of ExoTrain gameplay

In addition to exploration and crafting ExoTrainThe gameplay loop is combat, and it plays a much bigger role than in other games of this genre. Fight in ExoTrain plays similar to APRG Diablo or The path of exilewhere players face off against enemies from an isometric perspective and cast various skills while fending off enemies. ExoTrain it also has a wide variety of weapon types for players to choose from, including:

• Battle axe

• Ax

• Spear

• Sword

• SMG

• Rifle

• Thermal sniper rifle

Upgrading your armor and equipment is also an important part of preparing for battle ExoTrainand the game features mechanics that allow players to customize their builds through an overclocking system. At the overclocking station, ExoTrain players can add modules to their gear that offer enhanced abilities, such as increasing the rifle's critical hit chance or reducing its heat generation. This system gives ExoTrain an almost RPG progression system similar to something similar Diablo 4Tempering mechanics along with a crafting progression system.

ExoTrain shares a lot of features with games like Satisfactory and Subnautica

The use of trains in a survival crafting game or inclusion in some degree of combat is nothing groundbreaking for the genre. Satisfactory it includes both trains and combat, with the former used to transport resources around the map and the latter allowing players to collect resources from creatures. Subnautica it also features progression locked behind vehicle upgrades, with players needing access to the Cyclops submarine to reach the deepest parts of the ocean. However, ExoTrain takes these features and places them in the foreground.

Automation is the heart of such a game Satisfactoryand ExoTrain has its own combat twist on this system. While resource mining is an easily automated process ExoTrainwith players able to build mining drills on ore veins, they won't be able to completely leave those structures alone to gather resources. With the fight being the main part ExoTrainIn the game loop, players will have to defend the mining drill from enemy attacks to ensure that they can continue gathering resources unhindered. However, players will also be able to set up defensive measures like automatic turrets to keep these creatures at bay, so they won't necessarily have to actively defend their structures.

Railing is nice, but building a permanent base is also fun

ExoTrainThe titular train doesn't have to be the player's only base. The game also allows players to build much more permanent structures as they acquire resources and technology to do so. Similar to Subnautics or SatisfactoryThe ability to create large-scale production facilities and bases throughout the game world should help ExoTrain players in their quest to rebuild the destroyed colony and clear what's left of the planet without human life.