Planet in the Shadows

About

Planet in the Shadows is a single player action game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Sergey Bobrov and was released on April 15, 2016. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

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

Skip User Reviews

64%

Audience ScoreBased on 11 reviews

humor2 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game offers a nostalgic experience reminiscent of classic PC games from 25 years ago, providing a unique aesthetic and challenge.
Gameplay encourages strategic planning and resource management, making it engaging and rewarding as players progress through different stages.
The pixel art is lovely, and the game features a variety of mechanics that keep the experience fresh and interesting.

The game is plagued by significant bugs, including game-breaking issues that have persisted for years, making it unplayable for some users.
Movement controls are clumsy, and the lack of effective weapons can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.
The autosave feature can be problematic, often saving in inconvenient situations that force players to restart, leading to a sense of helplessness.

gameplay
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
Gameplay is characterized by a mix of basic mechanics that initially seem simple and humorous, but evolve into a more complex experience with additional resources and recipes in later stages. However, some players express frustration with certain mechanics, such as the inability to create effective handheld weapons to manage environmental challenges, suggesting a need for reconsideration by the developers.
- “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.”
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. This blend of lightheartedness and unexpected depth contributes to the game's comedic charm.
- “The most funny part in the game is the player's base.”
- “The game introduces basic mechanics and recipes that seem simple and humorous at first, but then the second stage arrives with more resources, recipes, and mechanics, adding to the fun.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game has been reported to have some bugs, indicating that stability may be an issue for players.
- “A bit buggy from what I saw.”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it hard to enjoy.”
- “I experienced several glitches that disrupted my gameplay.”
graphics
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Reviewers appreciate the game's aesthetic and the effort put into its visual design, indicating a positive reception of the graphics despite potential limitations.
- “I really enjoyed the aesthetic and what the developers tried to achieve with the graphics.”
- “The visuals are stunning, with incredible attention to detail that brings the world to life.”
- “The art style is unique and captivating, making every scene a visual treat.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players find the resource gathering aspect of the game to be tedious, indicating that the grinding required can detract from the overall enjoyment.
- “Resource gathering is tedious.”
- “The grinding feels endless and repetitive.”
- “I find the leveling process to be a monotonous grind.”