Possible One: Lunar Industries is aiming for the moon—literally. At Gamescom 2025, Upstairs Games gave us our first real hands-on look at the upcoming lunar colony management RTS, and it’s already shaping up to be something special.
Set to launch in Q1 2026, Possible One positions itself as the first realistic lunar colony management RTS, grounded in proven technologies and real-world lunar science. Players aren’t just tasked with keeping colonists alive in hostile conditions—they’ll need to mine resources, manage infrastructure, balance corporate demands, and survive the realities of space.
A Colony Built on Science
The game begins with a descent into the Shackleton Crater, where players start laying the foundation for their first lunar settlement. From there, it’s all about growth: excavating precious metals, building out facilities, unlocking technologies, and keeping colonists safe from dangers like radiation, low-gravity health risks, and the mental strain of being so far from Earth.
What makes Possible One stand out is how much it leans into realistic simulation. Every system—from power management during lunar darkness to rocket launch logistics—feels like it’s been carefully modeled on how humanity might actually approach lunar industry.
What We Saw at Gamescom 2025
The new demo gave us access to the first 40 minutes of gameplay, and here are the standout features:
- Lunar Darkness Simulation – Survival depends on effective energy planning during extended periods without sunlight.
- Autonomous Astronauts – Crew members now operate more independently, handling daily routines and assignments.
- Rovers and Scouting – New rover types allow terrain scanning, cargo hauling, and expansion planning.
- Rocket Mass Visualizer – Every launch is a high-stakes calculation, demanding efficiency and precision.
It’s clear Upstairs Games has put serious work into making sure every mechanic serves both the gameplay and the believability of the experience.
Hands-On Impressions
We sat down with the Upstairs Games team in Cologne for a 30+ minute session, followed by a quick interview. Compared to what we saw at PAX West 2024, the improvements are massive. The visuals are sharper, the UI is smoother, and the pacing of base-building feels more natural.
Meeting the devs was also a highlight—especially snapping a polaroid with them while trying out the demo (fingers crossed it’s hanging on their office wall now).
Even as someone who doesn’t usually gravitate toward base-building games, Possible One already has enough going on to keep me hooked. If this demo is just the start, the full release could easily become a must-play for fans of strategy and simulation.
Check out Possible One: Lunar Industries on Steam.
