Surviving a spaceship crash is only the beginning. Adaptory, the systems-driven survival and base-building colony sim from Stormcloak Games, is officially launching into Steam Early Access on January 26, 2026. The announcement was revealed during the Frosty Games Mini showcase, a digital event celebrating standout titles from Australia and Aotearoa / New Zealand, with publishing support from indie.io.
Focused on emergent storytelling, deep simulation, and long-term survival, Adaptory invites players to guide a small crew of explorers as they attempt to endure—and thrive—on a hostile, uncharted planetoid.
A Desperate Awakening on an Alien World
Adaptory begins with disaster. A Terranean exploration vessel suffers a catastrophic malfunction, crash-landing on a seemingly barren world. Awakened abruptly from cryosleep, four explorers must adapt quickly or perish.
Players are tasked with keeping the crew alive, constructing a functional base, and managing the psychological and social dynamics that emerge when survival depends on cooperation. What unfolds is a deeply personal colony simulation where every decision carries weight.
Procedurally Generated Explorers With Lives of Their Own
Each explorer in Adaptory is procedurally generated, complete with unique skills, traits, personalities, and opinions. These characteristics shape not only what tasks they excel at, but also how they interact with one another.
Relationships form naturally through daily routines and conversations, creating a distinct narrative with every playthrough. Players can peek into each explorer’s inner thoughts through personal diaries or overhear candid conversations as they work—offering rare insight into how life unfolds after the crash.
From Survival Shelter to Sustainable Settlement
Early gameplay revolves around immediate survival. Players must locate scattered food and oxygen supplies, build shelter to protect against the harsh vacuum, and establish a basic outpost to keep the crew alive.
As time passes, complexity increases. Pre-packaged supplies run out, forcing players to develop agriculture systems to sustain food and oxygen. Research requires recovered data chips, pushing explorers to expand across the planetoid in search of raw materials. Eventually, automation becomes essential as the outpost grows into a fully functioning settlement.
Deep Simulation Powered by Science and Systems
What sets Adaptory apart is its intricate simulation of physical and chemical systems. The game models gravity, temperature, density, viscosity, and phase transitions across fifty different materials. These systems interact dynamically, encouraging players to solve problems creatively rather than follow predefined solutions.
Players might channel molten rock to generate heat and power, refine raw materials into rare resources, or engineer systems that take advantage of the environment itself. Every solution is shaped by player ingenuity—and every mistake can ripple through the settlement.
CHARLI the AI and a World That Pushes Back
Supporting players throughout their journey is CHARLI, a cheeky artificial intelligence designed to help ensure the explorers’ survival. CHARLI’s tutorials introduce gameplay systems organically, guiding players through the game’s layered mechanics without interrupting immersion.
But the world is far from forgiving. Environmental anomalies, unchecked expansion, meteor showers, and solar eclipses can suddenly destabilize even the most carefully planned base. Adaptory constantly challenges players to reassess, adapt, and think ahead in moments of crisis.
A Philosophy of Resilience and Responsibility
According to solo developer and designer Jevon Wright, Adaptory is built around the idea of long-term thinking and accountability.
Rather than encouraging players to abandon failed attempts and start over, the game rewards resilience—finding sustainable solutions, learning from mistakes, and nurturing both the environment and the community within it. This design philosophy makes every colony feel personal, fragile, and worth saving.
Early Access Launch and Community Involvement
Adaptory enters Steam Early Access on January 26, 2026, inviting players to help shape the game’s future alongside its developer. Players can join the growing community on Discord and follow Stormcloak Games across social platforms to stay informed as new features, systems, and content are added throughout Early Access.
For fans of survival games, colony sims, and emergent storytelling, Adaptory is shaping up to be a thoughtful and challenging experience worth watching in 2026.
