So you have just bought and installed Take On Mars for the first time, congrats! Unfortunately, as you start the game up to mess around with it, you may find it is riddled with bugs. Wait, don't ask for a refund yet or leave a bad comment!

First thing first, there is an updated version of the game that does not have as many bugs. This version is located under Steam's game "Betas" because the version never got officially released. This mode known as the "Test Branch" still supports multiplayer, as long as your friends are using the test branch together, otherwise it won't work with older versions. In order to unlock this version of the game, you will need to go to your steam library and left click on Take On Mars, go to "properties", click it and go to the "Betas" tab once the properties window pops up. From there you will see a line of text saying: "Select the Beta you would like to opt into" with a drop down menu below in. Right now, if you have just bought and installed the game, it should say "None". Note that you can only open the drop down menu and change your game beta if the game is not running. Below the drop down menu (make sure it is closed), you should see another line of text saying "Enter Beta access code to unlock private Betas" followed by a box you can type the password into.

In order to unlock the test branch version, you will need to go to the TKOM steam discussions page. Under the list of pinned discussions, there is one called "Test and Development branches". Open that up, you can find more information on the different versions there. This discussion included the passwords to unlock the betas, which is:

IWantToBravelyTest

Copy and paste this password into the password box in your betas tab of the properties window and it should unlock both the test and development branches. Ignore the development branch, it has all the same bugs the current version does.

The test branch should now appear in the drop down box. It says "test - direct studio to steam build. may be unstable! only use if you are interested in the newest features". Don't worry, this build IS stable and it works which is why you are opting into it. Select it and the game should start updating to the version as it gets installed. After that, you have a (mostly) functional game, with much less bugs!

While the test branch version has much less bugs than the normal version, it still has a few lying around. All these mods are free of charge and do not need to be paid for.

Bug patching mods:

1: https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2837891257
This very important mod fixes vehicle and base airlocks so they function correctly on worlds with no atmosphere and do not go through and infinite loop of depressurizing but not removing any pressure.

2: https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2376002662
This mod ensures most newly created base parts are radiation shielded, that you don't need to build a base out of complete radiation panels.

Recommended mods (will add more later):

1: https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1333614175&searchtext=time+to+sleep
This mod allows you to skip time when your character sleeps, letting you skip those long and annoying nights so you can get back to work.

Once you install the test branch and get to mods, you will want to start the game and go to the "addons" tab on the main menu. From there, select the mods you want to activate then hit back. The game will restart automatically so the mods can take effect. From there, you can start playing!

No game of course is complete without a tutorial. Luckily, this game has some to get you started. Go to the training tab on the main menu, then you can get started on the tutorials for the manned section. Once you are done with those tutorials, you can move on to the robotics tutorials. These will prepare you for the campaign and help with the basics.

The Campaign mode has 2 chapters, chapter 1 is the robotics campaign where you take on the role of a rover operator, pushing your vehicles to the max as you explore the frontier. Chapter 2 allows you to take on the role of an astronaut on the first human voyage to the red planet, encountering a disaster and finding yourself stranded on Mars. You can skip chapter 1 if you want, but you are missing out.

Multiplayer comes in 2 options. You can either play coop or competitive. Please note that the competitive mode was never fully finished, so it's probably best to avoid it, even though it works. Cooperative mode is the main game mode of multiplayer, where you and your fellow Martians land on the red planet with enough supplies to get started. From there you will want to begin food production by growing potatoes and locating a good place for mining to gather the resources you need to build a base. How you want to build it is up to you. You can stay on Mars as long as you like, just make sure you watch your supplies and stay alive.

Thanks for reading my guide, I hope it helped with making the game playable. Take your time and enjoy this game, and I hope to see you out there exploring on the frontiers of the red planet!