TL;DR
Honeycomb: The World Beyond is an exploratory sci-fi survival game focused on mapping alien ecology with specialized scientific instruments instead of combat. It excels with detailed, colorful environments and a peaceful, meditative structure, but suffers from slow pacing and mundane survival chores like eating and drinking. It suits players seeking a relaxing science-driven experience, while action fans should avoid it.
In Honeycomb: The World Beyond you play as a scientist sent to a distant planet to map its ecology and find biological solutions that can save Earth, which is now nearing catastrophe. The game differs significantly from traditional survival titles by replacing combat and multi‑tools with scientific instruments, biological processes, and experimental systems.
Personal perspective
Honeycomb: The World Beyond is not the type of game that I normally enjoy. I have a hard time with games where you have to eat, drink, and perform other mundane daily chores. I have enough of that in real life. While it is a small part of the game, it is still something that always bothers me. The gameplay mechanics are based on exploring an entirely new planet. You have a scanner that can provide information about everything around you. You find materials to build your tools, allowing you to develop and create even more advanced equipment as the game progresses.
Gameplay mechanics and realism
This is a very meditative game and you have no weapons whatsoever. You cannot even create a weapon; the most extreme thing you can do is stun animals that aren’t nice and cute. Personally, I have a bit of an issue with the realism there, as it feels implausibly foolish to travel to another planet without having anything to defend yourself with if necessary. However, it is very clear that this game takes a completely different direction.
Exploration and tools
Your task during the game is to document flora and fauna, collect samples, and create hybrids and crossbreeds that can restore Earth’s ecosystem. So, it is a very low-intensity and meditative game, which I actually appreciate even if I question the realism, as mentioned. What makes Honeycomb: The World Beyond stand out a bit in the sea of available survival games is that you don’t just have an all-in-one multi-tool; you actually carry around a plethora of different instruments and tools. Every plant, animal, and other thing you encounter needs to be handled in specific ways.
Pace and structure
The game has an extremely slow pace, so if you are looking for fast-paced action, you have come to the wrong place. There are clear tutorials at the beginning on how to do everything, and if you get stuck or wedged somewhere in the vegetation, you can always beam yourself back to your ship.
Graphics and presentation
The graphics are colorful and quite cute. They aren’t going for realism, but rather an animated feel. The environments are detailed, fantastic, and feature nice environmental effects such as rain and fog. I tested the game on Xbox Series X and experienced no performance issues whatsoever. According to my TV, the FPS sat at 60—I haven’t found any official figures at the time of writing.
Summary
In summary, this is not a game aimed at me personally, as I don’t have the patience to walk long distances to pick flowers and such. However, for those who like the survival genre and need a meditative game, this is really something for you. So, the score is high, but without a recommendation, because this is truly not a game that suits everyone.
Frozen Way sent a review code for this test. Senders of material have no editorial influence on our tests.
Review Highlights: Q&A
Is there combat in the game?
Honeycomb: The World Beyond features no weapons or combat, with the most extreme defensive action being the ability to stun hostile creatures.
What are the core gameplay mechanics?
Gameplay focuses on exploring a distant planet, scanning flora and fauna, gathering materials, and using various scientific instruments to develop advanced equipment and crossbreed species.
How fast is the gameplay pace?
The game moves at an extremely slow pace centered on walking long distances to collect samples, rather than offering fast-paced action.
How does the game perform on Xbox Series X?
On Xbox Series X, the game ran with no performance issues and maintained a 60 FPS readout on the display, accompanied by detailed rain and fog effects.
