On the Shoulders of Giants is a generational adventure game set in a fantasy world where humans have begun to colonize Mars. Players begin the game by controlling one of the first colonists on the planet.
During the character’s lifetime, players must find a mate in order to produce offspring with desirable genes and abilities while also finding resources that will allow their bloodline to thrive in the future. When the currently playable character inevitably dies, their oldest child becomes the next playable character, continuing the cycle of mating and preparing for future generations.