Planet Explorers

About

Planet Explorers is an open-world sandbox adventure game set on a distant planet. Players can build and customize their own tools, vehicles, and structures, while also gathering resources, completing missions, and fighting alien creatures. The game features a dynamic story generation system, allowing for a unique experience with each playthrough.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

+26

60%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,852 reviews

story372 positive mentions

stability260 negative mentions

The game offers a unique voxel-based building and crafting system that allows for extensive customization of weapons, vehicles, and structures.
The expansive world is filled with diverse biomes, interesting flora and fauna, and a decent storyline that keeps players engaged.
Despite its bugs and unfinished feel, the game provides hours of fun and creativity, especially in single-player mode.

The game has been abandoned by the developers, with many features left unpolished and multiplayer functionality removed.
Numerous bugs and glitches hinder gameplay, including issues with quest progression and character AI.
The controls and user interface are clunky and unintuitive, making it difficult for players to navigate and enjoy the game fully.

story
1,735 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
74%
5%
The story aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its intriguing premise and engaging quests, while others criticize it for being buggy and incomplete. Players noted that the story mode serves as a tutorial, introducing mechanics through quests, but often suffers from glitches that can hinder progress, such as unresponsive NPCs or broken missions. Overall, while the narrative has potential and offers a rich world to explore, it currently feels unfinished and requires further polish to fully realize its promise.
- “The story is really interesting and intriguing, and it is brought to an end, so there is a defined 'completion', but it ends in a cliffhanger and feels like it would have been the first chapter of at least four.”
- “The story mode is fully voice acted, and the plot is pretty interesting.”
- “The story mode has the feel of classic sci-fi novels such as 'Dragons Dawn', the prequel for the 'Dragon Riders of Pern' with a story of surviving on a new alien world while trying to develop a colony, yet there are large threats looming that will threaten all you work to build.”
- “The main story mission is a letdown as others have mentioned but I honestly play these types of games for the sandbox anyway.”
- “The story mode is nothing like the trailer movies here on Steam; you can't really explore without getting your followers or escort NPCs stuck all the time, and in story mode, 90% of the missions are just that: escort missions, run here and pick up that NPC and run there to pick up that other NPC and then back here, getting really boring after a while.”
- “The quests in the story mode need work on clarifying objectives; escort said person... doesn't have a 'to where'.”
graphics
478 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
56%
11%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that they feel dated and unpolished, reminiscent of earlier gaming eras. While some appreciate the vibrant art style and the potential for beautiful environments, others criticize the performance issues, clunky animations, and overall lack of optimization. Despite these shortcomings, a number of players find the visuals enjoyable and fitting for the game's sandbox and crafting mechanics, suggesting that while the graphics may not be cutting-edge, they still contribute positively to the overall experience.
- “The graphics are breathtaking; the crafting system is quite interesting as well; and I really like the music - it's rare to see a game having its own unique theme song.”
- “The graphics are beautiful and unique, the story flows well and I never seem to get tired of mining and crafting.”
- “The graphics are quite beautiful, I find myself just stopping to enjoy the view quite often.”
- “The interface and graphics are from another era.”
- “The graphics are just so terrible that it hurts; it's so badly optimized I had to put everything to the lowest setting available to get 30fps (and I have a Xeon 6 core with a 750ti and 24GB of RAM).”
- “The graphics are old and sucky.”
gameplay
416 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
60%
10%
The gameplay of this game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its potential but criticizing its execution. While the crafting and building mechanics are often praised for their creativity and depth, the overall gameplay experience is marred by clunky controls, awkward combat, and numerous bugs, leading to a feeling of unfinishedness. Despite these issues, some players find enjoyment in the sandbox elements and exploration, suggesting that the game could improve significantly with further development and polish.
- “The gameplay is just plain fun and there's so much to explore.”
- “The unique voxel-based design system is extremely fun, despite the mechanics of it being not quite realistic.”
- “The gameplay is enticing with a great work-to-reward ratio.”
- “Unfortunately, I bought this game, got stuck within minutes, and had to deal with the worst music and gameplay I have ever seen to date. Just go mod Minecraft; you'll have more fun and have more updates than this game will.”
- “The gameplay is clunky and crafting/building is very time-consuming.”
- “A fundamentally flawed game; everything you do feels painfully slow, its mechanics are uncreative and clunky, and it's just not a fun game to play.”
stability
270 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
96%
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous users reporting it as "buggy," "unfinished," and "abandonware." Many players experience frequent glitches, crashes, and game-breaking issues, particularly in multiplayer and questing modes, leading to frustration and disappointment. While some users find moments of fun amidst the bugs, the overall consensus is that the game lacks polish and stability, making it difficult to recommend for those seeking a smooth gaming experience.
- “Runs great, immersive, great quality, and entertaining.”
- “With that said, the one 'campaign' that ships with the game, while not 100% bug free (and how many games are 100% bug free these days?), is pretty well done. The terrain is well made, the progression is steady, and it doesn't take long to learn how to play and to reach your goals.”
- “Unlike a lot of Steam early access games, this isn't too buggy.”
- “This game is an unfinished buggy mess and abandoned; I do feel I was ripped off by this company since they made it free to play.”
- “The game is buggy, the environments are much more sparse than the videos make them out to be, and the control scheme is one of the most clunky I have encountered in modern times.”
- “Game was never finished; no self-respecting developer should release an unfinished, buggy, unpolished mess like this.”
music
225 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
57%
11%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many players praising its beauty and ability to enhance the atmosphere, particularly during exploration and character creation. However, several users note that the soundtrack can become repetitive and lacks variety, leading some to disable it or play their own music instead. Overall, while the soundtrack is often described as lovely and fitting, its limited range and occasional loudness detract from the experience for some players.
- “The soundtrack really blew me away during the tutorial and the character creation, and the ambient music during the game itself is really pleasant to listen to.”
- “The music is beautifully amazing, full orchestra.”
- “The world is beautiful, the music and audio is top tier, the monsters are creatively looking and challenging.”
- “Unfortunately, I bought this game, got stuck within minutes, and had to deal with the worst music and gameplay I have ever seen to date. Just go mod Minecraft; you'll have more fun and have more updates than this game will.”
- “The music is extremely loud and drowns out everything else, even if you turn it down.”
- “The music is repetitive, and I hope it's a placeholder - but the choice of music, even if it's sparse, at least was a good one.”
optimization
141 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
53%
34%
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with many users reporting significant performance issues such as lag, stuttering, and low frame rates, even on high-end systems. Reviewers note a lack of polish and unfinished features, leading to a frustrating experience that detracts from the overall enjoyment. While some players have managed to run the game smoothly on lower settings, the consensus is that it requires substantial optimization to reach its potential.
- “All in all, the game had amazing potential, but excessive concentration on optimization over fun left it like a dead wasteland of incomplete features.”
- “With a fair bit more polish, optimization, content, and general improvements, this game really shows a lot of promise, rocketing past its slow period.”
- “The only complaint that I have about this game is that it isn't entirely optimized, but that's something that I can look past because this game allows me to express my full creativity.”
- “Of course, one immediately notices the lack of polishing and optimization that would have made it an AAA title, which many reviewers have already mentioned.”
- “The game was left in a janky state, with performance problems, lack of final polish, easily broken quests (though they are also in turn easy to fix, no game breakers here), a story that's left forever in a cliffhanger, and so on.”
- “This game seems horribly optimized.”
grinding
104 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
2%
97%
Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game is a mixed bag; while some players find it tedious and overly time-consuming, others appreciate the balance and rewards it offers. Many users express frustration with the repetitive nature of resource gathering, crafting, and farming, often describing these tasks as clunky and unengaging. However, some players enjoy the depth of the crafting and building systems, suggesting that the grind can be worthwhile for those who appreciate the game's creative potential.
- “The resources are balanced and getting them is not grindy.”
- “The grinding is annoyingly long and boring but somewhat fun at the same time.”
- “The amount of grinding and digging for what ore you actually get is a joke.”
- “There is way too much grinding, too far distance between objectives, and way too much micromanaging.”
atmosphere
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
32%
7%
The game's atmosphere is frequently praised for its enchanting and immersive qualities, with many players highlighting the beautiful visuals and engaging music that create a captivating alien environment. However, some reviews note inconsistencies, such as occasional loss of sound and a lack of life in the world, which can detract from the overall experience. Despite these criticisms, the atmosphere remains a standout feature, evoking a sense of exploration and wonder.
- “The atmosphere is amazing.”
- “With gorgeous visuals, solid gameplay and an eerie, engrossing atmosphere, Planet Explorers is an adventure I urge you to undertake!”
- “More than anything, I love the atmosphere of this game, kind of like the equivalent of a 'feel good' movie without getting overly sappy.”
- “Sadly, the game atmosphere feels dull because of that.”
- “World has no atmosphere, as in no life, nothing happening.”
- “Nothing really happening in the atmosphere.”
humor
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
96%
11%
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding it genuinely hilarious due to its outdated graphics and quirky character designs, while others criticize the cheesy voice acting and clunky animations as unintentionally funny. Many highlight amusing bugs and absurd gameplay moments, such as ridiculous character movements and odd mechanics, which contribute to a lighthearted experience. Overall, the humor is often described as charmingly bad, appealing to those who enjoy a blend of intentional and unintentional comedy.
- “Some of the characters are forgettable, but some are just hilarious.”
- “I watched one of the cutscenes and it was so unbelievably funny I had to change my rating.”
- “The creatures in the world they've created are unique and really funny in some instances.”
- “The humor in the game often falls flat, relying too much on funny bugs rather than clever writing.”
- “I expected a lot more from the humor; it feels forced and doesn't land well.”
- “The jokes are repetitive and lack originality, making the humor feel stale.”
replayability
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
77%
12%
The game offers significant replayability through its world generator and adventure mode, which randomizes gameplay elements, creating unique experiences each time. While some players note issues with progression and a lack of engaging content in certain modes, many appreciate the potential for replay value, especially with the inclusion of multiplayer and mod support. Overall, the game is seen as having a solid foundation for replayability, though it still requires further development to fully realize its potential.
- “It's just an extension of the main story mechanism, without the constraints of the story beats, and infinitely replayable thanks to the world generator.”
- “The creatures are amazing and story mode actually provides a good story while adventure mode generates unique maps for replayability.”
- “No other game I have seen on Steam is as good as this; it has everything the average gamer needs, and the possibilities are almost endless on this game, making the replayability really good.”
- “The replay value, however, still needs quite a bit of work.”
- “Poor progression, poor replayability, non-existent survival mechanics.”
- “The quests are typical 'do my laundry then find 800 copper,' which actually isn't so bad at the start but clearly it's not a sustainable model of replayability.”
monetization
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
6%
88%
The monetization aspect of the game has been heavily criticized, with many users labeling it a "cash grab" due to its unfinished state and the developers' focus on creating sequels rather than improving the current game. Players express frustration over the potential introduction of microtransactions and the game's transition to free-to-play, which they perceive as a tactic to drive sales for the upcoming sequel. Overall, the sentiment reflects disappointment in the developers' commitment to the game and concerns about its long-term viability.
- “No wrap-around, and no microtransactions needed; anyone can quite literally build (or download) for themselves anything they can imagine while in the game.”
- “Another cash grab game, abandoned so they can make a sequel and sell that instead, which will obviously be in early access for 3 years and then abandoned to make a third installment.”
- “Unfinished crap that was another early access cash grab.”
- “To add insult to injury, in their statement about the lack of interest in fixing the lobby-based multiplayer, they even announced they will soon start work on a sequel... ('Hey, we killed multiplayer for this game... but make sure to buy the next part!') and as 'compensation' for their previous players, they switched the game to free-to-play, which sounds more like an advertisement to newer players to play the first game so they buy the sequel when it comes out.”
emotional
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
90%
30%
The emotional aspect of the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding a heartfelt connection through its vibrant visuals and personal experiences, while others express disappointment over clunky gameplay and a lackluster story. The game's emotional highs are contrasted by frustrating mechanics, leading to a sense of imbalance that players feel compelled to address within the game world. Overall, it evokes a range of feelings, from heartwarming moments to heartbreaking frustrations.
- “Points given back because of the emotional connection I have with the game, with its vibrant colors and beautiful sights.”
- “This left my character emotionally and physically unbalanced, which forced me to build him a hospital to recover in.”
- “Heartbreaking experience.”
- “The emotional depth of the story is lacking, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
- “I expected a rich narrative experience, but the emotional engagement fell flat and left me feeling disconnected.”
- “The game tries to evoke feelings, but the execution is so poor that it feels more frustrating than moving.”
character development
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
83%
50%
Overall, the character development in the game is praised for its engaging design, interesting voice acting, and a compelling storyline that surpasses expectations for a sandbox title. However, some players feel that the story mode lacks depth and immersion due to bland dialogue, suggesting a need for more substantial character development to enhance the narrative experience. The presence of a character designer with numerous customization options is also noted as a positive feature.
- “Great story and character development not normally found in a sandbox... the storyline in many ways is even better than Firefall's... and you know who wrote *that?”
- “There is a character designer with lots of options.”
- “+ great character design and graphics”
- “The 'story' mode needs more story and character development; I cannot stress enough that there needs to be more depth in the narrative.”
- “Character development feels shallow and rushed, leaving me disconnected from the characters and their journeys.”
- “I expected a rich character arc, but instead, the development is minimal and lacks emotional impact.”