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Survival games are usually associated with constant fighting for survival, dangerous enemies and high stress. The Planet Crafter, however, approaches the genre in a completely different way. The developers have opted for a calmer style of play in which the biggest challenge is developing your own planet and managing resources. On 21 July the game launches on PlayStation 5, giving console players the chance to experience this unique project. It's aimed at those who enjoy exploration, building and watching the results of their efforts.
A survival game without combat or monsters, yet full of exploration
The Planet Crafter transports players to a hostile planet that must be gradually transformed into a habitable place. From the very first minutes of gameplay you need to monitor oxygen levels and your food and water supplies. That does not mean enemies or deadly threats lurk around every corner. The developers deliberately omitted monsters, combat and classic horror elements. Instead they opted for an atmosphere of discovering an unknown world. Players traverse vast terrain, explore caves, uncover hidden locations and learn the secrets of past expeditions. Each outing can yield new resources or clues about the planet’s history. The terraforming system is particularly interesting. As you progress, the environment begins to change. Glaciers melt, new areas appear and previously dead zones gradually fill with vegetation. This makes the game world constantly evolve and encourages further exploration. The player does not just watch gauges and stats, but actually influences the appearance of the entire planet. It is this element that makes The Planet Crafter stand out from many other survival games. Every hour of play produces visible results and gives a real sense of progress.
Building and terraforming should be the main part of the fun
One of the foundations of the gameplay is expanding your base and creating the infrastructure responsible for terraforming the planet. Players build power generators, heat pumps and specialised machines that gradually change the world's atmosphere. Interestingly, some mechanics were inspired by popular idle games. That means devices keep working even when the player is out exploring or doing other activities. This system makes the planet's development continuous, and every return to base can bring new surprises. Meanwhile you can search for rare minerals, investigate sites of past disasters, or discover new species of organisms. The developers emphasise that their aim was to create a relaxing experience that rewards curiosity and creativity. Cooperative mode will also play a big role, allowing you to develop the base and reshape the planet together with friends. Building together and planning the next stages of terraforming is meant to be one of the most engaging parts of the game. Because of this, The Planet Crafter may appeal both to fans of calm single-player experiences and people who prefer playing in a group. The game doesn't rush you and lets you grow the world at your own pace. This approach is increasingly rare in the survival genre. For many players, that calm style of gameplay may prove to be the game's biggest asset.
The Planet Crafter will debut on PlayStation 5 on 21 July, offering an unconventional take on the survival genre. Rather than fighting enemies, players will focus on exploration, base building and transforming entire planets into places full of life. If you're after a calmer game centred on progression and discovering the world, this title could be one of the more interesting releases this summer.
Source: PlayStation
