Icarus: Holdfast Outpost Review Summary

Stunning outposts offer threat-free creative building and diverse activities, but game-breaking open-world bugs, unfixed outpost issues, and a blank initial entry spoil the experience.

Outposts enable threat-free creative building: Outposts let players build freely without attacks from open-world creatures, making them ideal for creative or builder playstyles. They are described as the closest thing to a creative mode in Icarus.

Outpost maps are visually stunning: Players frequently praise the outpost maps as very pretty, with amazing views, picturesque build locations, and memorable effects like geysers spraying into the sun. The layout and scenery are consistently described as beautiful.

Outposts support diverse activities: Outposts accommodate a wide range of playstyles including farming, livestock raising, fishing bases, ranches, cozy cabins, swimming, and advanced base building. They offer many options for creative and casual players.

Expansive open world with freedom: The game features humongous open world maps and is extremely open, with lots and lots of options and no forced objectives. It appeals to open world sandbox players who enjoy freedom.

Developers are dedicated and responsive: The developers are praised for being open to community feedback, having outstanding communication, and showing dedication through continuous updates and fixes. Paid DLC is seen as helping keep the game alive with weekly improvements.

Open world has game-breaking bugs: Players encounter game-breaking bugs on the open world map, which hinder gameplay progression. This issue is a major concern for overall game stability.

Outpost bugs remain unfixed: Outposts still suffer from game-breaking bugs that were identified over two years ago and have not been fixed. This long-standing issue frustrates players.

Initial game entry shows nothing: Upon entering the game, players are met with a blank screen or no content, which is a severe issue. This prevents any gameplay from occurring.

Outposts lack developer support: Outposts appear to receive little to no developer attention or updates, leaving players feeling neglected. This lack of support contributes to an unsatisfactory experience.

Tutorial or onboarding missing: After purchasing the game, players are left without guidance on how to play, leading to confusion. This lack of tutorial hampers the initial experience.

Outposts are separate mini-maps: The game features an outpost mode distinct from the open world, with smaller, named maps and unique biomes. Outposts are accessed as separate areas, such as Holdfast, Iceholm, and river outpost.

Outposts enable threat-free building: Outposts are designed as safe zones with mild weather and no hostile creatures from the open world. This allows players to build freely and relax without combat pressures.

Outpost resources regenerate frequently: Resources such as ore, trees, and other materials respawn in outposts, refreshing each time the outpost is opened. This supports continuous building and gathering.

Open-world sandbox exploration: The game is an open-world sandbox with exploration and survival elements. It offers open-ended gameplay with many optional paths.

Base building and crafting system: The game includes base-building and crafting mechanics. Players can construct structures and craft items, especially in outposts or scenic locations.

Creative open-world sandbox appeal: Reviewers strongly recommend the game to players who enjoy creativity and open-world sandbox experiences. It is described as a highly recommendable title, with one reviewer giving it a 110% recommendation.

Peaceful building without threats: Players who want to build for building's sake without any threats or combat pressure are encouraged to pick up the game. The setting is also highlighted as appealing for this style of play.

Immersive beautiful environment experience: The game is recommended especially for those who like to sit back and immerse themselves in a beautiful environment, whether alone or in co-op. This makes it a strong fit for relaxation-focused players.

Zen building with fewer bugs: One reviewer recommends the game for a zen little build, noting that it avoids some of the game-breaking bugs found in the open world. This suggests a calmer, more stable building experience.

Best purchased on sale: A reviewer suggests that the game is probably best snagged on sale rather than at full price. This implies value-conscious purchasing advice.

Chill Creative Builder: Relaxed base-building and resource gathering on a small, safe map. Motivation: Creative freedom to build and decorate without pressure or long travel. Stance: buy.

Cozy Immersion Seeker: Solo or co-op cozy building and quiet exploration with minimal threats. Motivation: Relaxing immersion in a beautiful, cozy environment. Stance: buy.

Presence of paid DLC: The game offers paid DLC, including outposts sold as DLC. This indicates additional content behind a paywall.

Weekly updates and fixes: The game receives weekly updates and fixes. This shows active maintenance and improvement.

Praise for developer communication: Praise for developer openness and communication applies to the main game and all its extensions. This highlights consistent transparency.

Suggests testing before launch: The reviewer recommends that content be tested before launch. This implies a desire for better quality assurance.

Open World diminished outpost value: The introduction of Open World has diminished the value of outpost content. Outposts now feel less meaningful.