When Astroneer releases in early 2016, it will invite a lot of comparisons to Minecraft. Both are large, open-world survival games where players terraform a vast space to find resources and, eventually, build civilization. But System Era Softworks, the team behind the space exploration game, has a much bigger universe in mind, and if it can deliver on its promise it could leave Minecraft in the blocky, angular dust.

Astroneer's concept is, of course, very similar to Minecraft. But instead of being a lone wandering character in the wilderness, you're a lone astronaut on a planet. Here's where things get bigger: The planet is one of many, and you could also be one of many.

It also comes from a different place: one that's not about sharp polygons.

Like a lot of indy games, the idea began with a core design concept and only a couple of people--in this case just one. "Astroneer came from an art project I was working on in my spare time," says creator Adam Bromell. "I wanted to tell the story of an astronaut, alone on an infinitely distant planet, where [the astronaut is] the key to human survival but [she] would have to eventually sacrifice [her] life to do be that savior."