Phoning Home
Released Feb 2017
A tale of survival about two shipwrecked robots - ION and ANI - on their life-defining journey in this unique genre-mix of exploration, puzzle and survival.
69% positive · 1,084 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
Phoning Home launched on February 7, 2017 as a complete, story-driven exploration and survival game. Following release, ION LANDS actively supported the game with a series of patches addressing gameplay balance, controller support, UI improvements, and environmental design — all in the first year. The two "major content" updates in the scan were localization additions (Simplified Chinese and Hungarian in December 2017, Polish in June 2018), not new gameplay content. The final recorded developer communication is a balancing and bug-fix patch on October 27, 2018. Since then, there have been no further developer posts, no unreleased DLC, no announced future content, and no roadmap. The only DLC listed is the game's soundtrack, which was released on launch day. The game was clearly released as a self-contained narrative experience — it has a defined beginning, middle, and end — and the developer's post-launch activity was entirely focused on polish and accessibility improvements rather than expanding the game's content. With no developer communication since October 27, 2018, and no outstanding commitments of any kind, the game is complete.
Evidence
Balancing and bug-fix patch — the last recorded developer communication, addressing fall damage, fuel consumption, ANI corrosion, and additional auto-save checkpoints.
Only DLC is the game's soundtrack, released on launch day. No paid gameplay DLC or expansion content was ever listed.
Content
1 of 1 released · no outstanding content
Media
Details
Developer
Publisher
ION LANDS
Achievements
52
Platform
Windows
Controller
full support
Steam Deck
Not rated
Players
Single-player
About this game
You play ION, a young exploration unit on a mission to secure natural resources. When you crash-land on an alien planet your ship is almost completely destroyed. Not only do you have to survive in a strange new world full of dangers, but to have even a hope of escape you must find a way to contact your home planet for help.
With only your ship’s A.I. for company, you set out to explore your new home. On your journey you encounter ANI, a small, stranded service unit who identifies as female. ANI is the first to admit she’s a bit mad, but she is also a valuable resource, and it soon becomes clear that there will be no escape without her.
And so, the two of you begin a journey that neither of you is prepared for, on a planet where even the laws of nature seem not to apply. A journey in which ION and ANI must face the strangest of all possible challenges if they are to have any hope of living to tell their own story.
Be warned. Phoning Home starts easy, but gets quite challenging in the later stages of the game. Can you leave the planet?
With only your ship’s A.I. for company, you set out to explore your new home. On your journey you encounter ANI, a small, stranded service unit who identifies as female. ANI is the first to admit she’s a bit mad, but she is also a valuable resource, and it soon becomes clear that there will be no escape without her.
And so, the two of you begin a journey that neither of you is prepared for, on a planet where even the laws of nature seem not to apply. A journey in which ION and ANI must face the strangest of all possible challenges if they are to have any hope of living to tell their own story.
FEATURES
- Explore a new frontier. Large open environments with realistic environmental effects – from time-of-day lighting to dappled forests and snow-covered mountains, to volcanoes, canyons, deep oceans and scorching deserts – you must find your way.
- Experience a story with living (but not breathing) characters, brought to life by voice actors.
- Survive harsh weather conditions and temperatures – and protect ANI at all costs!
- An intriguing mix of exploration, logic and action gameplay.
- Create portals to traverse the landscape.
- Fight – or find ways to avoid combat.
- Craft improvements and critical tools from resources found in the environment.
- Discover the remnants of an alien civilization, decrypt their language and restore their technology.
- Enjoy a beautiful soundtrack.
Be warned. Phoning Home starts easy, but gets quite challenging in the later stages of the game. Can you leave the planet?
Are these done yet?
Last evaluated Jun 27, 2026
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