Lifeless Planet

About

Lifeless Planet is a single player open world action adventure game with mystery and science fiction themes. It was developed by Serenity Forge and was released on June 5, 2014. It received neutral reviews from critics and mostly positive reviews from players.

"Lifeless Planet" is a single-player mystery action-adventure game with an intriguing old-school sci-fi story and stunning visuals. As an astronaut searching for life on a distant planet, you discover an abandoned Russian town and evidence of past human life, leading to questions about time travel and Cold War hoaxes. Despite its impressive atmosphere, the game is plagued by bugs, lack of optimization, and grinding gameplay, with low replayability but high emotional impact.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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73%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,174 reviews

story857 positive mentions

stability59 negative mentions

Very chill game with quite an emotional story.
Engaging atmosphere that effectively conveys feelings of isolation and mystery.
Interesting narrative that unfolds through exploration and discovery.

Gameplay can feel tedious with excessive walking and repetitive jumping puzzles.
Controls are clunky and can lead to frustrating moments, especially during platforming sections.
The story, while intriguing, can feel disjointed and lacks depth in certain areas.

story
2,139 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
56%
4%
The story of "Lifeless Planet" is a central aspect of the game, described as emotional and intriguing, with themes of exploration, survival, and the consequences of human actions. While many players appreciate the atmospheric storytelling and the gradual unfolding of the narrative through environmental clues and logs, some feel that the story can be underdeveloped or predictable, leading to a sense of frustration during gameplay. Overall, the game is recommended for those who enjoy narrative-driven experiences, despite its pacing and gameplay mechanics being criticized.
- “The story sits at the heart of the experience and while it flirts with grand sci-fi themes (colonization, hubris, survival), it sometimes feels underdeveloped.”
- “The story is intriguing, however I don't think it was tackled very well.”
- “The story is interesting, has a cool concept that I'm looking forward to exploring further as I progress.”
- “There’s no combat and no real objectives beyond moving forward, jumping across cliffs, climbing hills, and slowly uncovering what little life and story exist in this empty world.”
- “The story sits at the heart of the experience and while it flirts with grand sci-fi themes (colonization, hubris, survival) it sometimes feels underdeveloped.”
- “The story is a mish-mash of ideas, which seem interesting initially until you realize that the designer is just throwing ideas at the wall to see what sticks.”
gameplay
604 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
67%
16%
The gameplay of *Lifeless Planet* is characterized by its simplicity, primarily involving basic platforming, traversal, and environmental puzzles, which some players find meditative while others deem monotonous. Many reviews highlight the game's linear progression and lack of depth, with mechanics that can feel clunky or inconsistent, leading to frustration during platforming sections. Overall, while the atmosphere and story are praised, the gameplay is often seen as lacking, making it more suitable for those who prioritize narrative over complex mechanics.
- “The gameplay is simple but fun, but that is to be expected being as this was developed by one very talented individual!”
- “The platforming mechanics are smooth and precise, the story seems promising and the visuals are gorgeous.”
- “The gameplay is mostly jump & run, and overall the gameplay is solid and I'm liking the story so far.”
- “Unfortunately, the gameplay itself doesn’t quite rise to meet the premise.”
- “The gameplay is repetitive and dull, the scenery gets old after an hour of seeing just desert and rocks.”
- “The gameplay itself is where everything falls apart.”
atmosphere
562 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
31%
2%
The atmosphere of "Lifeless Planet" is widely praised for its haunting and immersive qualities, effectively creating a sense of isolation and mystery that captivates players. Many reviews highlight the game's beautiful environments, evocative soundtrack, and the emotional weight of its storytelling, making it a memorable experience despite some criticisms regarding gameplay mechanics and pacing. Overall, the game's atmospheric design is considered its strongest asset, drawing players into its desolate sci-fi world.
- “Lifeless Planet, developed by Stage 2 Studios and published by Serenity Forge, is an atmospheric third-person adventure that blends science fiction storytelling with minimalist exploration and light platforming.”
- “The strongest element of Lifeless Planet is undoubtedly its atmosphere.”
- “From the moment you step onto the desolate planet, you're immersed in a hauntingly atmospheric world filled with breathtaking landscapes and a deep, thought-provoking story.”
- “Atmosphere is boring and has no character.”
- “There is no atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere wears paper-thin.”
graphics
504 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
50%
14%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that they are dated and reminiscent of earlier gaming eras, particularly the PS2 and early PS3 generations. While some appreciate the stylized visuals and atmospheric design that contribute to the game's mood, others find the graphics simplistic and lacking in detail, which detracts from immersion. Overall, the visuals are considered adequate for an indie title, but they may not meet the expectations of players seeking modern graphical fidelity.
- “Visuals are stylized but effective, with a washed-out palette that reinforces the world’s lifelessness and a strong use of environmental storytelling that hints at past tragedies without over-explaining.”
- “The graphics are great, and there is a real fun factor.”
- “The graphics are imaginative and alien and beautiful.”
- “The graphics are jarringly bad.”
- “The graphics look like they are from the late 1990s, but gameplay feels smooth and solid.”
- “The graphics were quite poor, as was the control scheme (the character turns on a dime, and whenever you need a flashlight this becomes dizzying).”
music
453 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
38%
1%
The music in "Lifeless Planet" is widely praised for its atmospheric and haunting qualities, effectively enhancing the game's sense of loneliness and exploration. While the soundtrack is often described as sparse, it is noted for its ability to evoke strong emotions and complement the game's visuals and narrative. However, some players found the music repetitive or lacking in variety, with occasional abrupt transitions that could disrupt immersion. Overall, the soundtrack is considered one of the game's standout features, contributing significantly to the overall experience.
- “The soundtrack, sparse but haunting, amplifies the sense of loneliness and wonder.”
- “The soundtrack perfectly complements the experience, enhancing the feeling of loneliness and curiosity.”
- “The music is amazing and really adds to the atmosphere of the game.”
- “Half of this game is walking from one point to the next with no soundtrack, no sound effects, and absolutely nothing to see or do.”
- “The music cut out randomly with harsh transitions that broke the mood.”
- “The only thing I really enjoyed in this game was the soundtrack, which sadly played for about 5 minutes during my 4-hour playthrough.”
stability
64 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
2%
92%
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting a variety of bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, such as rendering issues, physics problems, and checkpoint failures. While some users found the glitches manageable and not overly detrimental to their experience, others described the game as "very buggy" and "nearly unplayable" at times. Overall, the consensus suggests that while the game has potential, it suffers from significant technical issues that need addressing.
- “The game seems relatively bug free, which was nice and had super simple controls.”
- “It was bug free, it ran smoothly and the vistas were visually beautiful.”
- “No glitches, no bugs, no issues except my dumbass poorly timing really easy jumps.”
- “The game is very buggy and easy to break.”
- “It is buggy and nearly unplayable at parts.”
- “Beautiful visuals, good story, and okay gameplay are ruined by horrible bugs and technical glitches.”
grinding
63 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
97%
The reviews highlight a pervasive sense of tedium associated with grinding in the game, with many players describing the gameplay as repetitive, slow, and frustrating. While some appreciated the exploration and story elements, the overwhelming consensus is that the tedious platforming and walking mechanics detract significantly from the overall experience, making it feel longer and less engaging than it should be. Overall, the game suffers from a lack of rewarding gameplay, leading to a grind that many found unenjoyable.
- “There's a lot of grinding involved, but it feels rewarding.”
- “You'll need a second life for all the grinding, but it's worth it for the progress.”
- “Grinding can be time-consuming, but it adds depth to the gameplay.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Unfortunately, a legitimately engaging story became overshadowed by endless walking/backtracking and tedious jumping puzzles that felt more like pointless grinding.”
- “The game is mostly tedious running, with some boring jumping puzzles in between.”
replayability
47 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
53%
34%
Overall, the game has very limited replayability, primarily appealing to achievement hunters or those seeking to uncover hidden collectibles. Most players find that once the story is completed, there is little motivation to replay, as the linear gameplay and lack of alternate endings diminish the incentive for a second playthrough. While some enjoy the experience, many agree that it is best played once, especially given its short duration.
- “There is also replay value, especially if you're an achievement hunter.”
- “I'd say there's at least a little bit of replayability, not just for the achievements, but to make sure you hear the whole story due to the way it is told through finding research and journals.”
- “While it has limited replayability, other than to run through it again, this game will stick in my mind as fully worth my time and money.”
- “The replay value is limited, so you might want to consider waiting for Steam sales.”
- “There seems to me to be absolutely no replay value.”
- “Replay value is probably nil since once you've completed it and know the story, it won't interest you to go through it again - not immediately anyway.”
emotional
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
91%
9%
The emotional aspect of the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding the story to be a captivating and heart-wrenching journey, enhanced by a powerful soundtrack that evokes strong feelings. However, others criticize the narrative for lacking coherence and emotional depth, with moments that feel melodramatic or uninspired. Overall, while the game offers an intriguing emotional experience for some, it may fall flat for those seeking a more engaging and cohesive storyline.
- “There is a story and it was a little confusing at first, but it did start to make sense at one point and it became such an emotional journey.”
- “The story turns quite captivating and emotional as it progresses.”
- “The music was great, the planet was beautiful, the story was touching.”
- “Tldr; a walking simulator that boxes you into dull areas, with a boring story (thankfully it's short).”
- “If you like 100% linear platform games, if you like endless pressing of the W key, if you like challenges a child could do, if you like lots of reading for no point whatsoever, if you like a boring story which leaves you thinking you really don't care and if you like a game you will finish in a few hours then go for it.”
optimization
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
48%
39%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant frame rate drops, particularly on lower-end systems and during certain scenes, despite some experiencing smooth performance on high-end PCs. While the expansive game world and rare loading screens are commendable, the overall performance issues, including stuttering and freezing, suggest a lack of effective optimization, especially given its Unity engine foundation. Players have expressed disappointment, indicating that the game's technical performance does not meet expectations for a modern title.
- “The technical aspects of the game are robust for such a small team, reasonable performance, hardly any bugs, no crashes for me.”
- “The game generally runs smoothly but there was this one, maybe two places where I encountered lower fps.”
- “The game world is expansive and loading screens are rare, so it makes sense that the game would have to sacrifice some performance to try and give a sense of immersion, but for players with older computers, it can get a little choppy during certain scenes.”
- “I have a pretty high-end PC and there were sections that were so poorly optimized that it froze for 3-5 seconds for every 2 seconds I could move.”
- “The performance in this game is kind of unacceptable right now.”
- “Except for the countless times you'll die because you'll be stuck on rocks and the horrible performance drops (seriously, on my high-end enthusiast machine, this game runs at an average of 25 fps when there are any objects, walls, anything nearby).”
character development
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
50%
29%
Overall, reviews indicate a significant lack of character development in the game, with many players expressing disappointment over the shallow portrayal of characters and minimal interaction. While some appreciated the initial backstory provided, it ultimately felt insufficient and anticlimactic, leaving players wanting more depth and engagement. The character design received praise, but the absence of meaningful growth detracted from the overall narrative experience.
- “I really enjoy the story and the lore, and especially the character development of the colonizers.”
- “Character development is crucial for the player to become immersed in the reality of this game.”
- “I thought the textures were really well done, and I liked where the story was going, although I feel like there could have been a lot more character development.”
- “There is no character development at all, and consequently, the fate of the woman has no impact.”
- “I kept expecting there to be character development or something, but all of a sudden it was over.”
- “You're given a little bit of backstory for your character at the beginning of the game, which honestly is enough to get things in motion, but any sort of character development is pretty much ignored until the very end of the game, where those original few sentences of backstory are integral, so the whole thing ends up just coming across as shallow and anticlimactic.”
humor
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is primarily derived from its absurdity and the comedic nature of ragdoll physics, particularly during death animations, which players find amusing. While some aspects of the gameplay may frustrate, the overall experience elicits laughter, especially through humorous achievements and quirky controls. However, it's noted that the game isn't consistently funny, with humor being more situational and tied to the game's design choices.
- “So the developers certainly have a sense of humor.”
- “Beautiful music :) The controls are a bit funny sometimes, but I found myself laughing every time I died in some stupid way, so all in all, a very good time!”
- “The death animations are pretty funny with the ragdoll-like death rolls.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of *lifeless planet* is perceived as fair, with no misleading advertisements; however, players feel the game lacks depth and fails to deliver on the engaging experience promised, leading to disappointment. There is also a suggestion that increased advertising could help improve its visibility.
- “This game is like a movie whose ads draw you in, but ultimately disappoints.”
- “The description and advertisements aren't misleading and 'Lifeless Planet' is not a bad game by any means, but the overall game feels quite shallow.”