Planet in the Shadows

About

Inspired by the dungeon crawler genre, this short game blends traditional spelunking with base building mechanics. The player is stranded on a hostile planet, urged to build a base and defend it against the awfully aggressive forces of the hostile environment.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

67%

Audience ScoreBased on 12 reviews

graphics2 positive mentions

stability3 negative mentions

The game offers a nostalgic experience reminiscent of classic PC games from 25 years ago, with a unique aesthetic and engaging gameplay.
It features challenging mechanics that require strategic planning and resource management, providing depth and replayability.
Players appreciate the game's atmosphere, graphics, and the sense of accomplishment that comes from overcoming its difficulties.

The game is plagued by numerous bugs, including game-breaking issues that have persisted for years, making it frustrating and sometimes unplayable.
The controls and movement mechanics are clumsy, which can detract from the overall experience and make gameplay feel cumbersome.
Resource gathering and certain gameplay mechanics are tedious, leading to a sense of annoyance rather than enjoyment during play.

gameplay
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
The gameplay is characterized by a mix of simple mechanics and deeper strategic elements, offering a blend of retro-inspired design and modern complexity. Players appreciate the engaging atmosphere and replayability, though some mechanics, like the goo sticking to walls, have drawn criticism for their execution. Overall, the game successfully evolves from basic to more intricate gameplay, appealing to both casual and dedicated gamers.
- “In relation to game design, mechanics, etc., for a super-intelligent procedural strategy/action/adventure, this is a certified contemporary masterpiece as well.”
- “Good concept, design, replayability, evoking a lighter C64-ish/early PC/Flash loose variant perhaps of something like Project Firestart (C64); X-COM (early PC); Motherload (Flash mining game) in feel and simple gameplay.”
- “Retro enthusiasts: good atmosphere, graphics, and music evoking an authentic experience, with simple but stellar gameplay, offering +/- scoring and fat-trimmed replayability.”
- “You can fabricate a huge generator to create refined nuclear power cells, but nothing along the lines of a handheld weapon like a flamethrower, to deal with the frustrating mechanics of the goo sticking everywhere on your walls.”
- “I feel like the developer should've seriously reconsidered some of these mechanics.”
- “The game shows you basic mechanics and recipes, and you think that it's not very complex but a funny little game, but then the second stage comes, with more resources, recipes, and mechanics.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
The game offers strong replayability through its procedural design, allowing players to enjoy a pseudo-puzzler and turn-based action experience repeatedly. Retro enthusiasts appreciate the authentic atmosphere, graphics, and music, which enhance the overall gameplay, making it a hybrid title that encourages multiple playthroughs.
- “Good concept, design, and replayability, evoking a lighter C64-ish/early PC/Flash variant of something like Project Firestart; X-COM; or Motherload in feel and simple gameplay.”
- “Replayability: it's procedural, so it's a pseudo-puzzler/turn-based action game that you can replay over and over again.”
- “It is a hybrid game meant for procedural replayability.”
- “However, in regard to the above, it's procedural, so it's sort of a pseudo-puzzler/turn-based action game that you can replay over and over again.”
- “Good atmosphere, graphics, and music evoke an authentic experience, but the replayability feels limited despite the simple yet stellar gameplay.”
- “In a nutshell, it is a hybrid game meant for procedural replayability.”
graphics
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The graphics are appreciated for their retro aesthetic, creating an authentic atmosphere that resonates with enthusiasts. Players enjoy the simple yet effective visuals that complement the stellar gameplay and enhance the overall experience.
- “I enjoyed the aesthetic and what the developers tried to achieve.”
- “Good atmosphere, graphics, and music evoke an authentic experience, with simple but stellar gameplay, offering balanced scoring and replayability.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the humor in the game primarily through the player's base, which initially appears simple and amusing but evolves into a more complex and entertaining experience as new resources, recipes, and mechanics are introduced in later stages.
- “The funniest part of the game is the player's base.”
- “The game introduces basic mechanics and recipes that seem simple and amusing at first, but then the second stage arrives with more resources, recipes, and mechanics, adding to the humor.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Users report that the game exhibits some bugs, indicating that stability may be an issue.
- “The game is a bit buggy from what I saw.”
- “I experienced frequent crashes that made it unplayable.”
- “There are numerous glitches that disrupt the gameplay experience.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players find the resource gathering aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, leading to a frustrating grinding experience.
- “Resource gathering is tedious.”
- “The grinding feels endless and repetitive.”
- “I find the grinding mechanics to be overly time-consuming and frustrating.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The atmosphere is praised for its nostalgic appeal, featuring authentic graphics and music that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the combination of simple yet engaging gameplay, which contributes to a compelling retro vibe and encourages replayability.
- “The atmosphere is immersive, with graphics and music that evoke an authentic experience, making every moment feel special.”
- “The combination of retro graphics and nostalgic music creates a captivating atmosphere that draws you in.”
- “The game's atmosphere is enhanced by its stellar gameplay, offering a unique blend of simplicity and depth.”
music
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The music in the game is praised for creating a nostalgic atmosphere that enhances the overall experience, complementing the graphics and gameplay. Retro enthusiasts appreciate its ability to evoke authenticity while supporting engaging and replayable gameplay mechanics.
- “The music creates a captivating atmosphere that enhances the overall experience, making every moment feel authentic and engaging.”
- “The soundtrack perfectly complements the gameplay, providing an immersive backdrop that keeps you hooked from start to finish.”
- “With its stellar music design, the game evokes a sense of nostalgia while delivering a fresh and enjoyable experience.”