Ever dreamed of turning a hostile alien world into a breathable, life-supporting paradise? The Planet Crafter lets you do just that! I recently had a chance to play The Planet Crafter 1.0 that just got released on April 10th 2024 on Steam and here are my impressions.
The game starts you off with a bang – literally, as you crash-land on a harsh planet. Oxygen is scarce, danger lurks around every corner, and the landscape is a desolate wasteland. But fear not, because you’re here on a mission: to transform this barren rock into a habitable world.
The first hours are all about survival. You’ll scrounge for resources, build basic tools, and create a tiny haven against the harsh environment. But slowly, things start to change. As you gather more materials and unlock new technologies, you’ll build machines that begin to alter the planet’s atmosphere.
This is where The Planet Crafter is really great. Watching the world transform around you is incredibly rewarding. What was once a dull, lifeless landscape starts to show signs of life. Plants sprout, the sky turns blue, and even cute alien creatures begin to appear. It’s a truly captivating experience to see the fruits of your labor come to life.
The game cleverly blends exploration with crafting. You’ll scour the planet for resources, discover abandoned wrecks from previous expeditions, and use your findings to craft ever-more-advanced tools and machines. Every new blueprint unlocked feels like a mini-victory, pushing you further towards your ultimate goal.
The Planet Crafter recently added a multiplayer mode, allowing you to team up with friends to tackle terraforming together. It’s a fantastic addition, letting you share the experience and work collaboratively. While character customization options are currently limited, the sense of teamwork adds a whole new dimension to the game.
The game isn’t without its flaws. Early on, resource gathering can feel a bit grindy, and traveling vast distances is slow until you unlock better mobility options. The graphics are decent but not groundbreaking, and the music, while atmospheric, can get repetitive. But these are minor bumps on an otherwise enjoyable journey.
The Planet Crafter is quite unique game. It combines exploration, crafting, and base-building, all wrapped up in the grand project of transforming a planet. Watching the world change and feeling your impact is incredibly rewarding. If you’re looking for a relaxing, yet engaging game with a sense of long-term progression, The Planet Crafter is definitely worth checking out. It’s a 9/10 from me:)
