Hi everyone! I’m Denis, the developer behind Stoked Worlds. I’m working on Earth Is Optional, a space exploration game for mobile, and wanted to share where development stands.

The idea is to explore real destinations in the Solar System, with spacecraft and equipment suited to different missions. Android is the first platform, with iPhone planned later.

What’s working now

The game has a catalogue of over 600 real Solar System objects, including planets, moons and asteroids. You can travel between destinations, land on the Moon and explore with a rover. The lunar terrain is based on real scientific data.

Recent development

My recent focus has been performance. After a round of optimisation, the latest development build is running much more smoothly on the Samsung S25 Ultra and S23 Ultra I’m using for testing. I still need feedback from a wider range of devices, especially less powerful phones and tablets.

I’m also developing modular spacecraft construction. The aim is for the parts you choose to matter to the mission, rather than just changing how the spacecraft looks.

What still needs work

Mission progression and giving players interesting reasons to return are important next steps. There’s also a visual issue with patterned edges in shadow mode that still needs attention. Longer term, I want to expand surface exploration beyond the Moon.

Latest development footage:

Try the current Android test

A free closed test is available through the website below. Please note that this available build does not yet include modular construction or the latest performance improvements shown or discussed here.

Installation instructions:

https://earthisoptional.space/#install

I’d welcome feedback on the exploration, controls and performance. If you try it, please mention your device model and anything that felt confusing or frustrating.

I’m also interested in mission ideas: what task would make you think carefully about how to build and equip your spacecraft?

New update: from Saturn’s rings to the ocean beneath Enceladus!

Earth Is Optional now includes modular spacecraft construction and an Enceladus exploration mission. Land on the icy surface, deploy a melting probe and send an underwater drone beneath the ice to explore and carry out surveys.

I’ve also been experimenting with fictional alien life, including little glowing creatures and much larger encounters. The ocean setting is inspired by real science; the creatures are an imaginative addition.

Here’s the latest gameplay video, showing travel past Earth, Jupiter and Saturn, followed by landing and exploration on Enceladus:

These features are now included in the Android test build. Joining instructions:

https://earthisoptional.space/#install

I’d love your feedback on the underwater exploration. Would you prefer rare, mysterious encounters or more life to discover?

Hi everyone! I’m the developer of Earth Is Optional, a space exploration game currently in development for Android.

I’ve put together a 20-minute narrated gameplay walkthrough showing the modular spacecraft, a Moon landing and rover exploration, followed by the journey to Enceladus and the lander’s descent.

This is a longer look at how the game actually plays, with me explaining the systems along the way:

I’m looking for honest feedback, especially on the exploration loop. Would you be more interested in building and equipping your spacecraft, or exploring the moons with landers and rovers?

If you’d like to try the development build, Android testing details are here:

https://earthisoptional.space/#install

It’s still a work in progress, so feedback on confusing controls, performance and anything that needs improving is very welcome. Thanks for taking a look! 🚀

https://youtu.be/w1MilkvybX8?si=iy5GNmOu7mJX5bL7

This is giving me serious KSP vibes. I love it keep up the good work! The music matches too. What is the object of the game @StokedWorlds? I loved exploring space in KSP...