The Planet Crafter

About

"The Planet Crafter" is a survival and terraforming game where you are tasked with making a hostile planet habitable for humans. Gather resources, craft tools, build and upgrade your base, and use machines to heat the planet and create an oxygen-rich atmosphere. Watch as life forms begin to appear as you successfully terraform the planet.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 52,046 reviews

gameplay1.7k positive mentions

grinding2k negative mentions

The gameplay loop is engaging and addictive, combining resource gathering, base building, and terraforming mechanics that create a satisfying experience.
The immersive atmosphere, stunning visuals, and dynamic weather effects enhance the gameplay, making the transformation of the planet feel rewarding and enjoyable.
Players appreciate the lack of microtransactions and aggressive monetization strategies, highlighting the developers' commitment to providing a quality experience.

The story is minimal and lacks depth, with many players desiring a more compelling and structured narrative to enhance their experience.
The gameplay can become repetitive and grindy, especially in the late game, leading to a sense of monotony for some players.
The game suffers from various bugs and performance issues, particularly in multiplayer modes, which detract from the overall experience.

gameplay
4,914 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
61%
4%
The gameplay of "Planet Crafter" has been described as engaging and addictive, with a satisfying loop that combines resource gathering, base building, and terraforming mechanics reminiscent of games like "Subnautica." Players appreciate the intuitive controls and the visual transformation of the planet as they progress, although some find the gameplay can become repetitive and grindy, particularly in the late game. While the game is still in early access and has some rough edges, many reviewers express optimism for its future development and enjoy its relaxing, low-stress atmosphere.
- “The gameplay loop is amazing and seeing the planet slowly change due to your actions just doesn't get old.”
- “Fun and engaging gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is addictive and the soundtrack is amazing!”
- “The gameplay loop is simplistic, but bigger and bigger numbers paired with the visual transformation of the planet, definitely carried the game for the 30+ hours we've spent on it.”
- “The gameplay is as monotonous as possible - everything you do in the first hour of the game, you will do in 15 hours or more.”
- “The gameplay loop becomes stale.”
story
4,156 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
70%
6%
The story in "Planet Crafter" is described as minimal and primarily conveyed through environmental storytelling and scattered messages found throughout the game. Players appreciate the intriguing hints of a larger narrative involving previous terraformers and the planet's history, but many feel that the story lacks depth and could benefit from further development. While some players enjoy the light narrative as a backdrop to the crafting and exploration gameplay, others express a desire for a more compelling and structured storyline to enhance their experience.
- “The story was quite interesting as you find logs from other planet crafters and wardens throughout the map.”
- “The way the planet's environments unfold in line with the story is incredibly fun to see and discover.”
- “The story is engaging and adds depth to the gameplay, giving you a sense of purpose as you transform the barren landscape into a thriving ecosystem.”
- “They could have developed the story more and let you find out what happened to the other planet crafters or find their bodies.”
- “The story is rather rudimentary: you take on the role of a prisoner who can only gain freedom by making the chosen planet habitable.”
- “The story ends with a fizzle.”
graphics
3,202 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
50%
8%
The graphics of "Planet Crafter" have received mixed reviews, with many players praising the game's vibrant visuals and immersive atmosphere, particularly as the planet transforms through terraforming. However, some critiques highlight that the graphics can feel simplistic or dated, with occasional glitches and performance issues, especially on lower-end systems. Overall, while the visuals may not be cutting-edge, they effectively contribute to the game's engaging gameplay and aesthetic experience.
- “The graphics are beautiful and I have gotten hours of relaxing gameplay out of it and I still want to keep playing.”
- “The graphics are stunning, with landscapes that range from barren deserts to lush, verdant valleys as you terraform the planet.”
- “The graphics are amazing; especially after you get plant life on your planet the scenery is truly impressive.”
- “The graphics are pretty bad but it doesn't take away from the atmosphere the planet has.”
- “The graphics could be better and you might find some bugs here and there but nothing game breaking.”
- “The graphics feel like they're back from the 2000s.”
grinding
2,154 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
4%
95%
The grinding aspect of "Planet Crafter" has received mixed feedback from players. While many appreciate the satisfying sense of progression and the gradual unlocking of new technologies, several reviews highlight that the game can become quite grindy, especially in the late stages, where resource gathering and crafting can feel tedious. Players suggest that the experience is more enjoyable when played with friends, as it can alleviate some of the repetitive tasks associated with solo play. Overall, the game balances grinding with rewarding gameplay, but it may not appeal to those who dislike repetitive mechanics.
- “Progression feels great and not grindy.”
- “Very rewarding feeling, seeing the planet change as you go, not grindy at all and there is always something to do.”
- “There's very little waiting for your next materials, pretty much no grinding, and so much to build and do.”
- “This is one of the most grindiest games I've ever played...and I've played a lot of games and many of them were grindy.”
- “The late game especially feels very grindy, repetitive, and not much rewarding.”
- “The end game just takes too long, even after multiple rocket launches it just takes too long and too much crafting to get to the final blueprints which makes it feel very grindy.”
atmosphere
1,116 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
52%
4%
The atmosphere in "Planet Crafter" is widely praised for its immersive and relaxing qualities, with players enjoying the gradual transformation of a barren planet into a vibrant ecosystem. The game's stunning visuals, dynamic weather effects, and atmospheric soundtrack enhance the experience, creating a sense of wonder and accomplishment as players terraform their environment. While some critiques mention a lack of suspense and occasional repetitiveness, the overall ambiance fosters a calm, meditative gameplay style that encourages exploration and creativity.
- “With zero combat, no unexpected threats, and minimal time pressure, the game creates a calm and meditative atmosphere that encourages players to immerse themselves in its world at their own pace.”
- “You begin with a stark, lifeless world; however, as you terraform by cultivating plants, heating the world, and pressurizing the atmosphere, the environment gradually blossoms into a lush, vibrant, and busy paradise.”
- “The immersive atmosphere, combined with stunning visual effects and a dynamic weather system, keeps players engaged as they witness their efforts visibly altering the planet's ecosystem.”
- “The only enemy is the atmosphere.”
- “No atmosphere (no pun intended), no story (crash landing on an alien planet, at the same time getting the task of terraforming the planet? even the first minutes make no sense at all).”
- “Kinda ironic that the biggest problem with the game for me is the lack of atmosphere.”
music
1,062 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
53%
4%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its atmospheric and immersive qualities that enhance the overall experience. However, a common criticism is its repetitiveness, leading some to turn off the in-game music in favor of their own playlists. While the soundtrack is often described as beautiful and fitting for the game's themes, players express a desire for more variety and dynamic changes as the game progresses.
- “The combination of terrific graphics, a stellar soundtrack, and soothing gameplay makes it a standout title on both PC and Steam Deck.”
- “The music is honestly pretty awesome, it's chill fitting the style of the game, but manages to be subtly ominous when the occasion calls for it.”
- “The stunning graphics and immersive soundtrack enhance the gameplay, creating a soothing atmosphere reminiscent of cookie clicker, where each click and action brings a satisfying auditory reward.”
- “The only dislike I have of this game is that the music is too repetitive.”
- “It has some sweet soundtracks, but hearing them over and over for hours made me switch off the music.”
- “The only downside I have is the soundtrack.”
stability
810 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
2%
87%
The game's stability has received mixed feedback, with many players noting a variety of bugs and glitches, ranging from minor visual issues to more significant gameplay interruptions. While some players report a relatively smooth experience with few game-breaking problems, others highlight persistent issues that detract from immersion, particularly in multiplayer modes. Overall, the game is considered playable and enjoyable, especially given its early access status, but it still requires ongoing improvements to address its numerous stability concerns.
- “The game plays very well and is bug free, a lot better than most AAA titles.”
- “This game is a real gem; it runs great and is more polished and complete in early access than a lot of fully released AAA games.”
- “It works great, graphics are great, and the game runs very stable, with no lag, freezes, or crashes.”
- “The game is still a buggy mess several months after the 1.0 release: countless cases of simple crash to desktop, loss of framerate when playing co-op, catastrophic management of LODs, and overall bad management of the collisions.”
- “This game is so incredibly buggy I can't believe it's not still early access.”
- “It's good and has a lot of potential but at its current state it's way too buggy and unplayable.”
optimization
660 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
63%
12%
The game's optimization has received mixed feedback, with many players noting that while it runs smoothly on lower-end hardware and has improved since early access, performance issues become significant in the late game, particularly as bases grow and more elements are introduced. Users have reported frame rate drops, stuttering, and occasional crashes, especially when many structures or flora are present. Overall, while the game is enjoyable and visually appealing, further optimization is needed to enhance performance, particularly in more complex scenarios.
- “The game is well optimized and the music evolves as the planet evolves.”
- “I love the optimization; I love that I'm 20 hours in and it seems like I'm not even halfway through the progression of terraforming.”
- “The game looks amazing, and it's well optimized for the small team that develops it.”
- “Additionally, the game seems to have some optimization issues later on as I was getting massive stutter when I would go to my base.”
- “Performance drops and in some worst cases my PC would freeze and start rebooting.”
- “The game isn't great looking, the lighting is completely broken (your flashlight either does nothing or the resulting bloom blinds you), and you can easily clip through pretty much any part of the map, and the performance for such a basic-looking game is quite bad.”
replayability
464 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
64%
9%
Replayability in the game is a mixed bag, with many players noting that the static map and limited variability significantly reduce the incentive to replay. While some enjoy the ability to start from different locations or try new strategies, the lack of procedural generation and repetitive gameplay mechanics lead to a consensus that replay value is generally low. However, the addition of multiplayer and ongoing updates may enhance replayability in the future, keeping some players engaged for longer periods.
- “One strong point is replayability; you start your game choosing from different locations or even a random place. You can also shuffle locations, and this changes everything from the start.”
- “It has significant replay value, even if you know the order of progression the second (or third) time around.”
- “This game is very replayable and has a very interesting concept.”
- “Only issue is there's little to no replayability, the map doesn't change, the terraforming processes is also the same and all three endings can be done on one save file, however with the addition of humble you have a new planet and some new resources to work with giving a new episode to try out.”
- “This is a game I was happy to play, but has absolutely no replay value, and I can’t say I would ever play it again.”
- “It is the same exact planet every time so there is no replay value.”
humor
178 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is frequently highlighted as a standout feature, with players enjoying the amusing glitches, quirky mechanics, and unexpected scenarios that arise during gameplay. Many reviews mention the hilarity of rocket collisions, funny bugs, and the absurdity of certain game elements, contributing to a lighthearted and entertaining experience, especially in co-op play. Overall, the game's blend of humor and exploration creates a fun atmosphere that keeps players engaged despite its early access status.
- “It's one of the best exploration and base building games that I have played since Subnautica. The funny part is I have only played 26 hours because when I start to play, it crashes every 15 minutes and if I don't save the game then I lose all progress.”
- “I played 100% of the time in co-op with very minimal bugs, the ones we did have were just funny glitches (like the collision of rockets if you send multiples at once).”
- “Having to relocate my entire base when my first one was slowly flooding due to me not realizing I had built in an ancient lake bed was quite funny.”
emotional
122 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of "The Planet Crafter" is highlighted by players' deep connections to the game's world-building and terraforming mechanics, which evoke feelings of joy, nostalgia, and even sadness as they witness the transformation of a barren planet into a vibrant ecosystem. Many players report experiencing profound emotional moments, such as crying during significant changes like the arrival of rain or the sight of blue skies, emphasizing the game's ability to create a heartfelt and immersive experience. Overall, the game is praised for its wholesome and uplifting nature, making it a unique emotional journey in the gaming landscape.
- “It's a beautiful game with a story that nearly made me cry when I explored through it the first time.”
- “After hours of hard work, seeing rain on a once barren planet for the first time is an amazing emotional moment.”
- “The feeling of seeing your blue skies or your lake or your moss for the first time is an emotional milestone.”
monetization
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
26%
67%
The game is praised for its lack of microtransactions and aggressive monetization strategies, with players appreciating the developers' commitment to creating a quality experience without the typical cash grab tactics seen in many AAA titles. Reviewers express relief at the absence of in-game purchases and excessive advertising, highlighting the game's integrity and the developers' dedication to ongoing updates. Overall, the monetization approach is seen as a refreshing change in the current gaming landscape.
- “There are no microtransactions here.”
- “✔️ No microtransactions, no casino.”
- “No in-game purchases.”
- “I absolutely abhor when there's excess advertising, monetization, and ramming making more money down your throat.”
- “Don't do pop-ups when I try to close the game advertising your new DLC or microtransactions, don't push your next expansion on the title screen, and just make quality games.”
- “Not to mention the disgustingly predatory monetization practices intertwined.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews emphasize that while graphics and character design are visually appealing, the true strength of a game lies in its well-crafted character development and narrative flow, which many contemporary games fail to deliver.