Planetbase

Planetbase has a handful of minor flaws, but the overall presentation is excellent despite these tiny problems. A fun game for people who like building and managing communities.

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Planetbase is a strategy simulation game where players build and manage a colony on distant planets. Overcome challenges such as low oxygen levels, extreme temperatures, and hostile alien life forms to ensure the survival of your colonists. Expand and upgrade your base with various structures and technologies to create a thriving, self-sufficient colony.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

77%

Audience ScoreBased on 5,183 reviews

gameplay174 positive mentions

story16 negative mentions

Fun and addictive gameplay with a unique space colony building concept.
Challenging resource management that requires careful planning and strategy.
Great graphics and a relaxing atmosphere, making it enjoyable to play.

Poor AI behavior leads to colonists making illogical decisions, often resulting in starvation or death.
Limited building options and lack of depth in gameplay can make it repetitive after a while.
No pause function during gameplay makes it difficult to strategize and manage resources effectively.

gameplay
599 mentions
29 % positive mentions
62 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Planetbase" is characterized by a mix of engaging mechanics and frustrating elements, with many players noting a steep learning curve and occasional bugs. While the game offers a unique base-building experience with a variety of challenges, it suffers from repetitive gameplay and limited depth, leading to a sense of monotony after initial hours of play. Overall, players appreciate the graphics and core mechanics but express a desire for more content and improved AI to enhance the overall experience.
- “This is a fantastic base-building game with engaging gameplay.”
- “With its stunning visuals, deep gameplay mechanics, and immersive world-building, it stands as a shining example of what the simulation genre can achieve.”
- “The gameplay is fun and easy to learn, with many different planets and difficulties, and it is being frequently updated.”
- “There really isn't enough gameplay to justify the price tag.”
- “The building mechanics are annoying and very restrictive.”
- “The gameplay is repetitive at best, and downright easy, simple, and boring at worst.”
graphics
398 mentions
57 % positive mentions
41 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received generally positive feedback, with many users praising their quality and aesthetic appeal, particularly in the context of a survival builder set in a space colony. Players appreciate the game's ability to run smoothly on lower-end systems while still delivering visually appealing environments and detailed animations. However, some critiques mention that while the graphics are good, they may not push the boundaries of modern gaming visuals, and there are calls for further enhancements and more interactive elements in future updates.
- “With its stunning visuals, deep gameplay mechanics, and immersive world-building, it stands as a shining example of what the simulation genre can achieve.”
- “The graphics are beautiful and the gameplay is easy to understand.”
- “The graphics are really good for a colony/base builder and did not bog down my machine, even with very large sprawled out colonies.”
- “The visuals are, to be blunt, poor.”
- “The graphics are basic and unappealing.”
- “I get it's an indie game, but I just can't get past the potato graphics... it just seems like a low-res port of any other space sim game but with less interest.”
replayability
149 mentions
24 % positive mentions
61 % neutral mentions
15 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players finding it highly enjoyable and engaging due to randomized maps and various challenges, while others criticize it for lacking depth and becoming repetitive after a few playthroughs. Many reviews highlight that once players master the mechanics, the incentive to replay diminishes significantly, although community mods and additional challenges can enhance the experience. Overall, while there are elements that can provide replay value, many users feel that the game ultimately falls short in this aspect.
- “In a world filled with cheap basic timewaster games, this one stands out because it manages to scratch the itch, while still being replayable enough to come back to time and again.”
- “Great game has replay value -- once you've mastered the basics, the game includes 3 additional planet types that will make you rethink how to play, and also challenge modes to try various handicaps and see how that affects your gameplay.”
- “With such a large variety in planets, conditions, and scenarios, the game has much replayability.”
- “I got all 10 milestones on the first planet within a few hours and there really is no replayability after.”
- “It seems neat at first but there is no real replay value.”
- “In general, yes this is a fun game to get yourself into for a few hours, but replayability is pretty weak, and it can get repetitive quite quickly, also due to the lack of real challenge.”
story
145 mentions
8 % positive mentions
81 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its absence, with many players noting that there is no overarching narrative or campaign to engage with. While some enjoy the sandbox elements and individual challenges, they express a desire for more meaningful storylines or missions to enhance the gameplay experience. Overall, the lack of a cohesive plot or character development leaves players feeling disconnected from the game's potential narrative depth.
- “What I like most is that it puts me into a sci-fi story mode.”
- “Did you enjoy Surviving Mars' compelling player-involved storytelling of humanity struggling to establish a foothold on another world?”
- “You are building across worlds and have to deal with the elements, intruders, limited resources or unavailable buildings, and unhappy citizens all against the backdrop of an engaging storyline.”
- “There does not appear to be any storyline.”
- “It's a sandbox game with no yard; you're just dropped into it - there is no story, there are no goals outside of arbitrary in-game achievements.”
- “Planetbase doesn't have a storyline or mission beyond surviving and growing your base.”
music
111 mentions
52 % positive mentions
37 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, described as relaxing and fitting the game's theme, enhancing the overall experience. However, some players find it repetitive over time, leading to a desire for more variety in the soundtrack. While the ambient soundscapes are appreciated for their calming effect, a few users noted that the music can become annoying, prompting them to turn it off in favor of their own playlists.
- “The music is addictive.”
- “Awesome ambient game music and sound effects.”
- “With a great music score and stunning visuals as you play, Planetbase helps teach players the value of not just managing their collected resources, but also the manpower, morale, and time required to keep a far-flung colony together.”
- “The only thing more annoying than that is the music, and it is pretty bad.”
- “Music gets old real quick.”
- “The music became a tad annoying so pretty much just opted to have it off most of the time and leave the sound effects on.”
stability
91 mentions
13 % positive mentions
4 % neutral mentions
82 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a mixed bag, with many players reporting significant issues related to buggy AI and frequent freezes, particularly when managing larger colonies. While some users experienced smooth gameplay with minimal glitches, others found the AI behavior frustratingly erratic, leading to gameplay disruptions. Overall, the game appears to have a range of stability experiences, from relatively bug-free to severely impacted by technical issues.
- “The basics of base building and gradual expansion are simple and relatively bug-free.”
- “No glitches, bugs, or hiccups the whole time I played.”
- “What really gives this game a positive review is that even though there's limited features at the moment, the game is completely optimized and is bug-free.”
- “Fun for the first little bit, but eventually the buggy AI starts to hinder this game.”
- “The AI is extremely buggy, often refusing to actually do tasks, leading to station-wide issues from lack of spares, which causes oxygen and power problems.”
- “At the time, there were numerous AI glitches that made the game unplayable, and I felt the game belonged in early access.”
grinding
76 mentions
3 % positive mentions
1 % neutral mentions
96 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is frequently described as tedious and repetitive, particularly in the late game where players feel that the initial excitement diminishes into a monotonous cycle of resource management and base expansion. While some players appreciate the challenge and complexity of managing a colony, many express frustration with the lack of meaningful achievements and the slow pace of progress, leading to a sense of boredom over time. Overall, the game is seen as enjoyable in short bursts but becomes a grind that can detract from the overall experience.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Yeah, okay, it's kinda grindy.”
- “It's just grinding.”
- “This game isn't horrible, but it's not fun, it's not rewarding, and it's tedious.”
- “The cool parts of the game are locked behind a long, boring, tedious grind to get achievements on the first planet.”
atmosphere
55 mentions
44 % positive mentions
45 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and engaging qualities, effectively transporting players to various alien environments with distinct weather challenges and visual aesthetics. Reviewers appreciate the combination of atmospheric graphics, sound design, and the tension created by survival mechanics, which enhance the overall experience. However, some players note that while the atmosphere is compelling, the gameplay mechanics could benefit from further refinement to match the richness of the setting.
- “The atmosphere makes this game.”
- “Immersive atmosphere, well done.”
- “Such a beautiful atmosphere, and I want to experience more of it.”
- “Love the idea, just sadly poor implementation of overall management atmosphere.”
- “It's a challenging experience with a stranded, desperate atmosphere, one that is tense just waiting for the next disaster that can just end your game.”
- “You can restart a map and you'll have a different landscape, but you'll still have to use the same buildings to fill each need of your base, the same techs, the same people... I restarted a map on another planet, and except for the feeling of a different atmosphere which needs a bit of tweaking of my energy production facilities, I didn't really feel a challenge to it.”
optimization
22 mentions
41 % positive mentions
45 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is commendable, running smoothly even on older low-end hardware without crashes or performance issues. However, players have noted that the AI and UI could benefit from further optimization, as well as the need for more features to enhance gameplay. While the graphics are decent and performance scales well with numerous actors, some mechanics feel restrictive and could be improved for a more enjoyable experience.
- “Runs smoothly on an old low-end computer with nicer graphics than most of the larger, more expensive games in the genre.”
- “Performance scales really well even when you have 500+ actors.”
- “What really gives this game a positive review is that even though there's limited features at the moment, the game is completely optimized and is bug-free.”
- “The AI is poorly optimized, the tutorial explains very little, and there is an irritating mix of realistic yet difficult aspects and unrealistic yet difficult aspects.”
- “It always feels like they could have taken the mechanic one step further or optimized one more aspect to make it more playable near end game.”
- “The game needs more features as it stands; right now the main challenge is establishing supply chains that offset the logic/performance problems with the colonists' intelligence.”
humor
18 mentions
94 % positive mentions
-11 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its lighthearted and often absurd take on planetary base building, with players finding amusement in the quirky behaviors of colonists and the game's silly mechanics. While some aspects, like the AI's antics and the ridiculousness of certain features, elicit laughter, others feel that the humor diminishes as gameplay progresses. Overall, the game is seen as entertainingly flawed, with potential for more comedic elements to enhance the experience.
- “Being a simulation game, one of the interesting bits is watching how the colonists respond to things, learning their rhythms of food and sleep, and just laughing at the stupid things that they do.”
- “The fact that the devs are saying $20 full price would be humorous if they didn't already have my money.”
- “Anti-meteor laser is hilarious at first.”
- “So bad, it's actually funny.”
- “The humor falls flat and feels forced.”
- “I expected clever jokes, but instead got cringeworthy puns.”
emotional
8 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is mixed; while it provides a sense of relief and allows players to zone out without guilt, it also presents intense moments of frustration and heartbreak, particularly when players experience the loss of characters they may not feel deeply attached to. The gameplay can evoke strong reactions, from joy to despair, as players navigate the challenges of survival and the consequences of their decisions.
- “This game has made me feel better.”
- “I've never met a strategy game that made me feel like it was okay to zone out and not feel guilty.”
- “I cry out in joy as I believe he will make it, only to hear the heartbreaking notification noise that a colonist has died, two feet from the food maker.”
monetization
7 mentions
14 % positive mentions
29 % neutral mentions
57 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with some players appreciating the absence of microtransactions and DLC, which allows for a more genuine gaming experience. However, others feel that the game's mechanics resemble a waiting game typical of mobile games, leading to concerns about player control and engagement. Overall, while some view the developers' approach as a labor of love, others suspect it may be a cash grab.
- “Developers continue to improve and add content, with no whispers of DLC or microtransactions.”
- “It takes control away from the player and makes this a waiting game like a mobile game, only you don't have microtransactions to speed things up, thank God.”
- “This seems like a cash grab by the devs to get more money out of people and a very poorly considered strategy if that was their intent.”
- “My expectations were low, but the advertisement looked good, so I thought I would give it a try.”
character development
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Planetbase excels in character development by providing a variety of diverse character designs and allowing players to influence the functionality and aesthetics of their base through interior design, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.
- “Planetbase does a really good job of scratching that itch by not only offering fun, various, and diverse character designs, but also lets you do some interior design, giving you even more control over how your base functions and looks.”
- “The character development in this game is incredibly engaging, allowing players to form unique identities for each character and see them evolve over time.”
- “I love how the characters in this game have distinct personalities and backstories, making their development feel meaningful and impactful throughout the gameplay.”