This article is timeless and should be accurate for any version of the game.
Challenges are a game mode where the player must accomplish a specific objective within a time limit. Mission parameters, game rules and colony coordinates are predetermined and unique for each challenge.
Each challenge is set on specific map coordinates, with a particular sponsor and game rules. If you are attempting a challenge, you are playing under the same basic conditions as any other player.
Each challenge has a time limit to be "completed" - you will fail if the objective is not completed during this time. If you manage to finish a challenge in half that time, it will be considered "perfected". While completing some challenges can be a significant feat on its own, perfecting them is balanced to be a challenge. The player is free to continue playing the map as a normal sandbox game after the challenge has ended, even if it was failed.
There are three different challenges for all sponsors, except for "Paradox Interactive" and "International Mars Mission".
No Mysteries are active during the challenges.
Challenge
Mission Sponsor
Commander Profile
Objective
Game rules
Deadline Sol
Perfect Time Sol
A New Nation
USA
Rocket Scientist
Have 5 domes, each with a population of 200 Colonists or more
Endless Supply
No Events
200
100
Arco-Logistics
Brazil
Oligarch
Have 8 fully occupied Arcologies
No Events
200
100
Ark 2.0
Church of the New Ark
Doctor
Have 200 Colonists
The Last Ark
No Events
240
120
Baby Steps
Church of the New Ark
Rocket Scientist
Have 5 Martianborn Colonists
No Events
26
13
Breath of Fresh Air
Terraforming Initiative
Futurist
Have breathable atmosphere on Mars
Endless Supply
Fast Scanning
No Events
120
55
Campus Life
Europe
Ecologist
Have 200 scientists
No Events
240
120
City Building
India
Psychologist
Have a dome with a population of 100 Colonists and no homeless citizens
No Events
70
35
Civil Disorder
India
Oligarch
Reach a population of 2000 Colonists
Rebel Yell
No Events
300
200
Cold Fusion
India
Ecologist
Have 4 fusion reactors fully staffed and on 3 shifts
Winter is Coming
No Events
140
70
Drill Baby, Drill
Blue Sun Corporation
Inventor
Have a fully upgraded Mohole Mine
No Events
250
150
Earthbound
Japan
Hydro Engineer
Refuel and launch a rocket
No Disasters
No Events
6
3
Elbrus++
Russia
Futurist
Produce 250 Electronics
No Events
200
100
Fiscal Profits
Blue Sun Corporation
Politician
Accumulate $35000 M
Inflation
No Events
140
80
Founding Fathers
USA
Rocket Scientist
Complete the Founder Stage
No Disasters
No Events
12
6
Hello, Neighbors
Brazil
Hydro Engineer
Have a complex of 3 connected Domes and population of 50 Colonists
No Events
50
25
Housing Bubble
China
Futurist
Have 4 fully occupied Living Complexes
No Events
30
13
New Eden
Church of the New Ark
Doctor
Have a colony with at least 50 Colonists with average comfort 80
No Events
80
40
Operation: Katana
Japan
Inventor
Deplete 10 Metal underground deposits
No Events
140
80
Russian Concrete
Russia
Oligarch
Produce 1000 Concrete
Long Ride
No Events
34
17
Serve the People
China
Oligarch
Have a population of 200 Colonists
Long Ride
No Events
80
40
Seven
China
Astrogeologist
Have 7 Wonders
No Events
250
150
Specialized Training
Brazil
Psychologist
Have 50 Specialists
Amateurs
No Events
140
70
Tech Boost
Europe
Futurist
Research 25 technologies (repeatable technologies are counted once)
No Events
40
20
Terrafinito
Terraforming Initiative
Geo Engineer
Completely Terraform Mars
Increased Production
Prefab Colony
No Events
550
250
The Boundaries of Knowledge
SpaceY
Politician
Research 100 technologies (repeatable technologies are counted once)
Chaos Theory
No Events
250
150
The Gold Must Flow
Blue Sun Corporation
Astrogeologist
Export 30 Rare Metals
No Disasters
No Events
30
10
The Means of Production
SpaceY
Psychologist
Produce 5 Polymers, 5 Machine Parts and 5 Electronics
No Events
30
15
Tourist Trap
SpaceY
Rocket Scientist
Earn $2000 M from Tourists
No Events
80
40
Unconventional Desires
Japan
Inventor
Research 12 Breakthroughs
Dust In The Wind
No Events
200
100
Under the Microscope
Europe
Astrogeologist
Analyze all anomalies
Winter is Coming
No Events
80
40
Vocation Destination
Russia
Doctor
Have a VR Workshop, Art Workshop and Biorobotics Workshop