Reviews for Day on Mars are overwhelmingly negative, often citing it as an "asset flip"—a game made quickly using premade 3D store assets without significant original development or optimization.
Players report extreme performance issues, with some experiencing frame rates as low as 2 FPS even on modern hardware. The game is notorious for its lack of optimization, which can cause hardware to run excessively hot.
The Terraforming Mars board game (and its digital versions) is highly regarded for its deep, rewarding mechanics. Day on Mars - Steam
The general consensus on platforms like Steam is that the game is "not recommended." It is viewed more as a technical curiosity of "how not to build a game" rather than an entertaining experience.
Surviving Mars: Relaunched offers a polished, strategic city-building experience.