Official game
Play Solarpunk
This game is hosted by Steam. Continue to the official page to play or download it.
Buy on SteamSolarpunk — Complete Beginner's Guide
What Is Solarpunk?
Solarpunk is a cozy open-world survival crafting game developed by Cyberwave and published by rokaplay. Released June 8, 2026 on Steam for $16.99, it casts you on a world of floating islands where you gather resources, craft gadgets, build bases, farm crops, and explore the skies in your own airship — solo or with up to 4 friends in online co-op. The game is built on Unreal Engine 5, delivering vibrant visuals and a serene atmosphere.
The game is a sandbox-driven experience with no story campaign or quests. You set your own goals: build an elaborate base, automate resource collection with drones, explore every island, or create a self-sustaining farm. With approximately 20 hours of main progression, then an open sandbox mode, Solarpunk is designed for relaxing, creative play. Currently two biomes are available, each with unique resources, plants, and visual themes, and the roadmap hints at additional biomes post-launch.
Notable features include a solar/wind hybrid energy system, symbiotic animal farming (no slaughter), programmable transport drones for automation, an airship customization system, and 24 Steam achievements.
How to Play
The core loop is straightforward: land on an island, gather resources, return to your base, craft new equipment, build structures, and expand to new islands via airship.
Start by gathering basic resources — wood, stone, fiber, and scrap — from the starting island. Craft a workbench, then tools, then building materials. Set up a small shelter and a bed first thing — sleeping passes the night and sets your respawn point.
Progression Path:
- First Hour: Gather basic resources, build a workbench, craft stone tools, build a shelter with a bed
- Hours 2-4: Set up a farm plot (3-4 crops), build first solar panel + battery, construct storage
- Hours 5-8: Build your airship, explore the second biome, establish a forward base
- Hours 9-15: Scale up with drones, automate resource gathering, expand your main base
- Hours 15-20: Endgame builds, full automation, achievement hunting, sandbox creativity
As you progress, you'll build solar panels and wind turbines for energy, plant crops for food, construct storage for resources, and eventually build an airship to reach new floating islands. Each new island has different resources and biome characteristics.
Controls
| Input | Action |
|---|---|
| WASD | Move |
| E | Interact / Pick up |
| Tab | Inventory |
| M | Map |
| Right-click | Build / Interact with structures |
| Left-click | Attack / Use tool |
| Shift | Sprint |
Full controller support is available with customizable bindings.
Energy System
Electricity is the backbone of your base. Generate power using two renewable sources:
Solar Panels
- Generate during daylight hours (approximately 6 AM to 8 PM in-game)
- Output varies by weather — cloudy days reduce generation by up to 60%
- Most effective when placed on elevated, unobstructed platforms
- Stack multiple panels to increase total output
Wind Turbines
- Generate based on wind speed, work day and night
- Output varies by elevation — higher placement catches more wind
- Calm nights can reduce generation to near zero
- More consistent than solar when placed properly, but less predictable
Energy Storage: Build batteries to store excess power. A single battery holds enough energy to run a medium base through one night. Scale up to 3-4 batteries before significant base expansion.
Power Distribution: Power is distributed wirelessly across your base — no need to run cables. However, each device consumes power, so monitor your grid and expand generation before adding new machines. You can check grid status from any powered workbench.
Pro tip: Build in pairs — one solar panel + one wind turbine ensures power through most weather conditions. Add batteries before generators to capture surplus.
Airship Exploration
Each player builds their own airship. The airship lets you travel between handcrafted floating islands that make up the world. Currently two biomes are available:
- Verdant Reach: Lush, green islands with abundant wood, fiber, and early-game resources. Gentle weather, moderate temperatures.
- Ash Expanse: Volcanic-themed biome with rare minerals, geothermal vents, and unique plant species. Harsher weather, stronger winds (better for wind turbines).
Airship Upgrades:
- Fuel Capacity: Extended range for longer expeditions
- Engine Speed: Faster travel between islands
- Cargo Storage: Bring more resources back from expeditions
- Navigation Console: Reveal undiscovered islands on the map
When exploring new islands, bring crafting materials for a forward base so you can process resources on-site. This saves you from making multiple trips back and forth.
Farming and Animals
Grow fruits and vegetables as your primary food source. Plant seeds, wait for the growth cycle, and harvest. Different crops have different growth times and yields:
| Crop | Growth Time | Yield | Special |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berry Bush | Short (2 min) | Low | Edible raw, good for early game |
| Wheat | Medium (5 min) | Medium | Used in recipes, craft bread |
| Tomato | Medium (5 min) | Medium | Cooks into sauces, high satiety |
| Pumpkin | Long (10 min) | High | Versatile ingredient, seeds plant multiple |
| Strange Fruit | Very Long (20 min) | Very High | Exclusive to Ash Expanse, rare recipes |
The animal system is symbiotic rather than exploitative. Animals are not slaughtered for resources — instead, they provide materials through natural behaviors:
- Pigs: Dig up truffles when fed and given space to roam
- Chickens: Lay eggs when kept in clean, spacious coops
- Sheep: Shed wool when brushed regularly
Keep animals happy with appropriate food, clean water, and adequate space. Happy animals produce more resources and breed naturally.
Automation
Transport drones are the key to scaling your operation. Build drones at your workbench once you've unlocked the automation tech tier.
Drone Programming Options:
- Resource Gathering: Set a drone to automatically collect specific resources from designated zones (e.g., "collect all stone within 50m of this marker")
- Item Transport: Program drones to move items between storage containers automatically
- Crop Watering: Schedule drones to water your crops at set intervals
- Base Maintenance: Configure drones to repair structures and refill fuel tanks
Automation Progression:
- Start with one drone dedicated to resource gathering
- Add a second drone for crop watering
- Scale to 4-5 drones for a full automated base
- Endgame: 8+ drones running parallel tasks
Automation frees you to focus on building, exploring, and base design. Start with one or two drones and expand as your resource needs grow.
Base Building
Base building is a core pillar of Solarpunk. You can construct:
- Shelters and Housing: Basic to elaborate structures using wood, stone, and advanced materials
- Workshops: Crafting stations that unlock higher-tier recipes
- Storage: Chests, warehouses, and automated sorting systems
- Energy Grid: Solar panels, wind turbines, batteries, and distribution nodes
- Farms: Crop plots, animal enclosures, irrigation systems
- Decorations: Furniture, lighting, paths, and aesthetic items
Building Tips:
- Don't overbuild on your first island — resources are finite per island
- Scout your main base location early (islands with access to 3+ resource types)
- Build vertically to save space — platforms and multi-level structures
- Leave room for expansion — your early base will need to grow
Biomes
| Biome | Resources | Climate | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verdant Reach | Wood, fiber, stone, berries, wheat | Mild, moderate wind, regular rain | Starting base, farming, early game |
| Ash Expanse | Rare minerals, geothermal, strange fruit | Hot, strong winds, ash storms | Endgame materials, wind power, advanced crafting |
Beginner Mistakes to Avoid
| Mistake | Why It Hurts | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Building a big base before establishing food | Running out of food forces emergency foraging, stalling progress | Prioritize a farm plot with 3-4 crop types before expanding your base |
| Ignoring energy storage | Solar-only bases die at night; wind-only bases die on calm days | Build at least 2 batteries before your first expansion |
| Not using drones early | Hand-gathering becomes tedious once you have 5+ machines running | Build your first drone as soon as you have a workbench |
| Overbuilding on the first island | Resources are finite per island; you'll need to move eventually | Keep your first base small and scout a main base location on a different island |
| Solo hoarding resources in co-op | You progress faster as a team when resources are pooled | Share resources and assign roles (one builds, one explores, one farms) |
| Waiting too long to build an airship | The second biome has essential endgame resources | Build your airship as soon as you have 10 metal ingots and 5 fabric |
| Neglecting animal happiness | Unhappy animals produce fewer resources and may stop breeding | Check animal needs daily — food, water, space, and cleanliness |
| Building on low ground | Low areas flood during storms and receive less wind | Build on elevated platforms or high ground for better wind and flood protection |
F.A.Q.
How much does Solarpunk cost? $16.99 USD on Steam. Two DLC items are available: an Official Art Book and a story novel. No gameplay-affecting microtransactions.
Is it single-player or multiplayer? Both. Solo play works well, and online co-op supports up to 4 players. No dedicated servers or crossplay currently. Progress is host-based in co-op.
How long does it take to complete? About 20 hours for main progression (unlocking all tech tiers, exploring both biomes, max base). Sandbox mode is open-ended for creative building.
Are there enemies or combat? No. The game is designed as a cozy, relaxing experience without combat. The only threats are environmental: storms, falls, and resource scarcity.
What are the system requirements? Minimum: Intel i5-8400 / AMD Ryzen 5 2600, 6 GB RAM, GTX 1660 6GB. Recommended: Intel i7 / AMD Ryzen 7, 8 GB RAM, RTX 3060. UE5 means higher GPU requirements than typical cozy games.
Can I customize my character? Yes, character customization is available with options for appearance, clothing, and accessories.
Does it have achievements? 24 Steam achievements covering progression milestones, exploration, automation, and creative builds.
Is there a map? Yes, press M to open the map showing discovered islands, your position, and marked waypoints.
Can I move my base? Yes, but it's labor-intensive. Most structures can be dismantled for partial resource refund. Plan your main base location carefully.
How do I get more seeds? Seeds are found by exploring islands, trading with the traveling merchant (random spawn), or propagated from harvested crops.
Is there water management? Yes, crops need water. You can collect rainwater, haul water from ponds, or set up irrigation systems. Drones can automate watering.
Can I change the weather? No, weather is part of the game's dynamic system. Build redundant energy sources (solar + wind + batteries) to weather variability.
What happens if I fall off an island? You respawn at your last bed. Lost inventory can be recovered from a floating ghost bag at the point of death. Build railings on your base!
Last reviewed by Game How To Editorial. We play each game, verify controls against official sources, and update guides when game mechanics change. This guide was expanded on July 7, 2026 to include biome comparisons, automation progression paths, detailed crop tables, and advanced base building strategies.
