Arid
Released Jun 2021
Discover the mysteries of the Atacama, explore the abandoned mining networks, evade the scorching sun and survive the environment in one of the most arid place in the world. Arid is a FREE survival game made by students from Breda University.
86% positive · 1,964 reviews
Done
All announced content has been released
High confidence
Done
All announced content has been released
High confidence
Where to get it
Free on Steam
Evaluation
Arid is a free survival game created by students at Breda University of Applied Sciences. It launched into Early Access on May 26, 2021, and officially reached its 1.0 release on June 29, 2021, with the Moon Valley update completing the game's three-area structure.
The developer explicitly stated the game's content status in the November 17, 2021 update post (NEWS-1): "Besides extra QoL and bug fixes the current version of Arid is finished." This is a direct developer statement confirming that the game's content is complete. The same post also clarified that the team had scaled down after graduation and that while the game would remain free, the current version would not receive further content expansions.
The only DLC ever released is the free Official Soundtrack (July 15, 2021), which is a standalone music pack — not a content expansion. There are no unreleased DLC entries on the store. The post-launch update history consists of polish and bug-fix patches, with no new major content added after the 1.0 release.
The November 17, 2021 post is the last developer communication on record. Given the team's explicit statement that the game is finished and that members had moved on to internships and personal projects after graduation, the absence of further updates is entirely consistent with a completed student project.
Evidence
Developer explicitly states: 'the current version of Arid is finished' and confirms the team has scaled down following graduation, with members moving to internships and personal projects.
Arid officially exits Early Access with the Moon Valley update (version 1.0), completing the game's three planned areas and full narrative.
Content
1 of 1 released · no outstanding content
Media
Details
Developer
Publisher
Breda University of Applied Sciences
Achievements
39
Platform
Windows
Controller
partial support
Steam Deck
Unsupported
Players
Single-player
About this game
Welcome to Arid, a small and contained open world survival experience set during the 1930s in one of the driest places in the world: the Atacama.
It's the 30s. You are the pilot of a cargo flying 8000 meters over the Atacama*, a mysterious failure in the engine and a miraculous landing has left you stranded in one of the largest and most arid desert in the world. Will you survive the harsh temperature and conditions of this unique setting? Is there even a way out?
*We took some creative freedoms in order to extremize the harsh climate and location in which the game is set.
As a singleplayer survival open world, Arid aims at delivering a semi-hardcore experience that does not handheld the players. After a guided onboarding the player will be left to explore and progress the story how they prefer. Will you find and repair all the refuges on the map? Will you explore for additional resources? How many days can you survive?
Shade in the desert is scarce, as it is water. While exploring the mountains of the Atacama, the player must survive severe dehydration, extreme temperatures, sun exposure and other kinds of natural dangers.
Avoid getting sunburn and be careful to the body temperature of the character. Stock up with resources and look for a safe place!
Prepare yourself, extreme temperatures and sandstorm can occurr at any time. While they're not lethal on their own, they can heavily affect a struggling survivor.
Survive the day to embrace the darkness of the night. Find a bed to recover energy or embrace the darkness and explore the desert at night. Vision is scarce but without dangers such as the sun exposure and high temperatures, it will be easier to find resources.
Remember to keep your torch well maintained, you will need oil to be able to explore at night or get deeper in the mining network of the Atacama.
Something lies in the darkness...
Plane Crash
It's the 30s. You are the pilot of a cargo flying 8000 meters over the Atacama*, a mysterious failure in the engine and a miraculous landing has left you stranded in one of the largest and most arid desert in the world. Will you survive the harsh temperature and conditions of this unique setting? Is there even a way out?
*We took some creative freedoms in order to extremize the harsh climate and location in which the game is set.
Survival Open World
As a singleplayer survival open world, Arid aims at delivering a semi-hardcore experience that does not handheld the players. After a guided onboarding the player will be left to explore and progress the story how they prefer. Will you find and repair all the refuges on the map? Will you explore for additional resources? How many days can you survive?
Harsh Environment
Shade in the desert is scarce, as it is water. While exploring the mountains of the Atacama, the player must survive severe dehydration, extreme temperatures, sun exposure and other kinds of natural dangers.
Avoid getting sunburn and be careful to the body temperature of the character. Stock up with resources and look for a safe place!
Weather Events
Prepare yourself, extreme temperatures and sandstorm can occurr at any time. While they're not lethal on their own, they can heavily affect a struggling survivor.
Day and Night Cycle
Survive the day to embrace the darkness of the night. Find a bed to recover energy or embrace the darkness and explore the desert at night. Vision is scarce but without dangers such as the sun exposure and high temperatures, it will be easier to find resources.
Remember to keep your torch well maintained, you will need oil to be able to explore at night or get deeper in the mining network of the Atacama.
FEATURE SUMMARY
- Avoid sun exposure and keep your body temperature low.
- Keep yourself well-fed and hydrated. Water will be a scarce resource!
- Find abandoned locations and uses them as temporary refuges.
- Consume energy with every action, find a bed and strategize how many resources are needed to recover it back.
- Unlock different refuge facilities, such as the crafting bench, animal traps and the fireplace.
- Prepare food and craft all the items required for your survival.
- Hide from the lethal sandstorms.
- Discover the stories of the people that lived in this mysterious part of the desert.
Something lies in the darkness...
Are these done yet?
Last evaluated Jun 23, 2026
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