The Planet Crafter: Prologue

95%
Game Brain Score Based on 2,883 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • story
The Planet Crafter: Prologue Game Cover
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This is a prologue for the full game "Planet Crafter".From Hostile to Habitable You are sent on an hostile planet with one mission: Make it habitable for Humans. You'll have to survive, collect resources, build your base and machines in order to heat the planet, create an atmosphere with enough oxygen and eventually geo-engineer an entire planet! Survive, Collect, CraftGather minerals an…

  • PC
  • Windows
  • Cloud
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

95%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,883 reviews
gameplay64 positive mentions
grinding44 negative mentions
  • Engaging gameplay with a satisfying progression system that allows players to see the impact of their actions on the planet.
  • Beautiful graphics and a relaxing atmosphere, reminiscent of games like Subnautica.
  • A generous amount of content for a demo, providing hours of gameplay and exploration.
  • Limited tutorial and guidance, making it difficult for new players to understand mechanics and objectives.
  • Resource gathering can feel tedious, with materials scattered across the landscape rather than in more logical deposits.
  • The game lacks a compelling story or narrative, which may lead to a feeling of emptiness in the gameplay experience.
  • gameplay193 mentions

    The gameplay of this game has been widely praised for its addictive and engaging mechanics, drawing comparisons to titles like Subnautica and No Man's Sky. Players appreciate the straightforward mechanics and the enjoyable loop of resource gathering, crafting, and terraforming, although some have noted that the gameplay can feel repetitive and lacks depth in certain areas. Overall, the game offers a solid foundation with potential for further development, making it appealing for fans of the survival and crafting genres.

    • “I like this game because you don't get that feeling like you don't have anything left to do, like in Minecraft. This game can get you addicted because it's pretty simple to play, has good and simple mechanics, and is really fun.”
    • “Gameplay is addictive, if a bit repetitive, although this may be due to a missing storyline which I presume will be included in the full release.”
    • “The gameplay feels very much like Subnautica, except it's a planet to terraform, and less of a rescue story.”
    • “The construction mechanics are banal; 'mining' involves walking around and picking up resources scattered hideously across the map, and the progression system is so easy to game it's not even worth my time.”
    • “The gameplay is a bit slow, and I hope they add a few more challenges for the full release. There's some backstory about the player character being a convict exiled to this barren rock forced to greenify it, which is a rather convenient excuse for the slow gameplay.”
    • “This game is a cheap and shallow Subnautica clone without any of the magic but lots of idle game mechanics.”
  • graphics138 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players praising the vibrant art style and decent visuals that enhance the gameplay experience. However, some users note that the graphics can be modest or sub-par compared to AAA titles, and there are requests for improved performance and more graphic settings. Overall, while the graphics are generally considered good for an early access game, there are areas identified for potential enhancement.

    • “The graphics are amazingly perfect, especially the colors used to identify materials, objects, storms, meteor showers, etc. really!”
    • “Graphics are amazing, gameplay is easy to learn, and there are plenty of features and functionality to keep things interesting for quite some time.”
    • “Great looking terrain, beautiful visuals, effective audio, and no messy controls make this a joy to play.”
    • “Graphics are also very sub-par.”
    • “Graphics could use some polishing, some glitching occurs here and there... but it's a demo :) to be expected.”
    • “The game is overly saturated in terms of visuals.”
  • story134 mentions

    The game's story is described as minimal and lacking depth, with many players noting that it primarily revolves around the premise of terraforming a planet as a convict seeking redemption. While some appreciate the subtle hints of a developing narrative and the potential for future expansions, others express disappointment over the current absence of a compelling storyline. Overall, the exploration and resource management aspects are engaging, but a more fleshed-out narrative could significantly enhance the experience.

    • “From unraveling the origins of the story through cryptic messages to exploration and base building, it's clear that this game has been impressively orchestrated.”
    • “Beautiful game, well-written story, and an endless amount of exploration and fun to be had.”
    • “So much potential, and there's clearly a story behind it all, which makes it even more intriguing.”
    • “The story is lacking, although I don't expect much story-wise in an early access game.”
    • “Now, unlike Subnautica, which was a very story-driven survival game, there doesn't really seem to be a story in Planet Crafter beyond the fact you're a convict and to gain your freedom you have to fully terraform a planet.”
    • “It's basically Subnautica on Mars except there's no tutorial, no story, no vehicles, no enemies, no endpoint, half the buildings, and all on a fairly small map; all you can do is gather resources and build a base.”
  • grinding47 mentions

    Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game is a mixed bag; while some players find it calming and satisfying, others describe it as tedious and overly time-consuming. Many appreciate the balance between resource management and exploration, though some express frustration with the repetitive nature of tasks and the lack of vehicles to ease travel. Overall, the game offers a rewarding progression system, but the grind can become a chore for those who prefer a more streamlined experience.

    • “Great game if you want to kill time; it's not very grindy and it's not very boring. It's pretty much in the sweet spot a game needs to be in.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “A game needs to give the player a reason for everything they are doing or it just gets grindy and tedious, and there is no real reward for your time and effort.”
    • “It is boring, grindy, and empty.”
  • atmosphere45 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and eerie qualities, enhanced by atmospheric music and distinct biomes that create a sense of exploration and tension. Players appreciate the visual transformation of the environment as they terraform the planet, although some critique the simplification of the mechanics and the lack of depth in atmospheric effects. Overall, the atmosphere effectively contributes to the game's engaging experience, making exploration enjoyable despite some gameplay frustrations.

    • “A very chill game regardless of the eerie atmosphere; great work creating the vibe with the audio and keeping the tensions up, really feeling like I am completely alone yet still like someone's lurking outside.”
    • “Exploration is rewarding and the atmosphere is great, which makes exploring more fun than the mining, which can be quite tedious.”
    • “The atmosphere is mostly incredible, particularly the different areas like the caves.”
    • “The way the terraforming works in the game is not exactly credible, but who cares - it's a future where a few potted plants can generate atmosphere for an entire planet and a few heaters placed in a building can heat up the planet, lol.”
    • “This is no surprise considering just how simplified the terraforming is, but there are several important elements missing like soil composition, atmosphere composition, and radiation protection.”
    • “The eerie atmosphere will have you looking around for no reason.”
  • music44 mentions

    The music in the game is generally praised for its atmospheric quality, effectively enhancing the exploration experience with a mix of eerie and relaxing tones. However, many players note that the soundtrack can become repetitive and express a desire for more variety and additional tracks. Overall, while the music contributes positively to the game's ambiance, there is room for improvement in terms of diversity and frequency.

    • “I love the vibe, the music, simple learning curve with an interesting intrigue.”
    • “The music is a good mix of peaceful with a little bit of a foreboding feel, which I feel fits perfectly given the nature of some of the transmissions you see/find.”
    • “The atmosphere and music as well.”
    • “The music makes an eerie feeling, combined with the deserted vibe.”
    • “But the music can be repetitive.”
    • “I'm fine with minimal music, but perhaps there could be more ambiance to make up for it.”
  • stability30 mentions

    The stability of the game has received mixed feedback, with many players noting a variety of bugs and glitches, particularly related to map and object interactions. While some users report a relatively smooth experience with minimal issues, others have encountered significant problems, such as disappearing items and collision errors. Overall, the game is seen as a work in progress, with potential for improvement as it continues to develop.

    • “Crafting is smooth; building and assembly of items run great.”
    • “It's a prologue (demo)... almost bug-free and fun to play.”
    • “The prologue was really stable, with no glitches, bugs, or random crashes.”
    • “Basically a buggy and less-functional version of Subnautica.”
    • “Buggy as all hell since I died and the storage chest that is supposed to appear in the place you died just up and disappeared and made me lose a number of important items.”
    • “Huge number of bugs, mainly map glitches, random severe lags, and objects randomly moving out of space.”
  • optimization22 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while some players report smooth performance and high framerates, others experience significant drops, particularly during rain or with certain graphical effects. Many users note that the game still requires further optimization, especially for low-spec systems, but some commend its polished feel for a demo. Improvements have been observed in recent updates, yet issues like terrain bugs and inconsistent performance remain a concern.

    • “The game does have a ways to go but this is one of the first demos I've played in a long time that felt more polished and optimized than most early access games.”
    • “I was running right at 130fps so the game performed amazingly—no stuttering, no lag spikes, nothing.”
    • “Even as a demo, this game produced buttery smooth framerates on my rig and seems very well optimized.”
    • “However, optimization needs a bit of work still; it's really hard to play with a very short render distance for some more FPS, at least for me.”
    • “The problems I most often encountered are the lack of optimization of the game, which is manifested in sometimes a drop in framerate and in some cases terrain bugs when you cannot gather a certain resource or you cannot climb somewhere.”
    • “Performance is still a bit iffy, especially on particle effects, and that advanced crafting station makes your FPS sink into its knees, but that's okay for a game that's only 40% done.”
  • replayability11 mentions

    Overall, players express a mixed outlook on replayability, with some highlighting the potential for infinite replay value through varied scenarios and random events, while others note limitations due to small maps and lack of diverse content. The game's building system has garnered praise, contributing to its replayability, especially in its demo phase. However, the consensus suggests that enhancements like random generation and different planet types could significantly improve replayability.

    • “I see similar possibilities with Planet Crafter, where a whole backstory and mythos could be created and a story woven that incorporates the terraforming mechanics that could elevate this game from fun to epic, with infinite replayability.”
    • “Already has huge replay value even in the demo, and I'm ultimately impressed with the relatively smooth building system.”
    • “I hope the developers keep replayability in mind by changing start scenes and different scenarios.”
    • “Replayability... it won't have any unless random generated worlds or random events/disasters are added to the game.”
    • “- small map and low replay value.”
  • humor5 mentions

    The humor in the game is generally well-received, with players finding it fun and funny, often highlighting amusing bugs that add to the comedic experience. However, some users express frustration with the need to wishlist the game for a limited playtime, which detracts from the overall enjoyment.

    • “Very funny... cool game”
    • “I think it is a really funny game but you need to put it in your wishlist on Steam to play after 3 hours, so that is kinda crappy.”
    • “Looks to be a funny game.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization of the game initially raised skepticism among users, likening it to low-quality mobile games; however, many have found it surprisingly enjoyable, leading to continued play despite initial doubts.

  • emotional1 mentions

    Users find the emotional aspect of the game to be highly satisfying, indicating that it effectively resonates with players on a deeper level.

    • “Either way, it is emotionally satisfying.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Buy The Planet Crafter: Prologue

Play time

6hMedian play time
7hAverage play time
5-8hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 20 analyzed playthroughs

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