Planetbase

City-building simulators are rare guests in the gaming world. And if we are talking about construction on other planets, then this is a real curiosity. Planetbase is one of these rare examples. In this game, you will not just erect buildings, but build an entire base for the survival of colonists in alien conditions, managing the extraction of resources and monitoring the needs of each settler. The project was developed by a small independent studio and recently became available on Steam. The unusual space setting and atmospheric screenshots attracted a lot of attention from the gaming community to the game – and us, of course, too. In this review, we will tell you what Planetbase can surprise you with, what its strengths are, and where the developers still have something to work on.

Planetbase Free Steam Account

In general, Planetbase can be called the successor of classic space city builders, but with its own view on the genre. It takes the best from previous projects, and at the same time adds several interesting ideas. At the very beginning, we are given the choice of a place for the future base on a 3D model of the planet – the relief and conditions there are formed automatically. There is no special highlight in this, but the choice still creates a feeling of freedom. Three planets are available, but at first you can only go to the simplest one – the rest will open later, when you get used to it.

The training begins excitingly. Seven colonists and a couple of robots land on the planet with the task: to deploy a base, become self-sufficient, and then development will catch up. You can start construction anywhere, but it is most logical to locate it next to the landing module – then less time will be spent on organizing the first buildings and logistics. From a visual point of view, the game is pleasing to the eye – everything looks like in classic sci-fi films: snow-white domes with transparent walls come to life in the middle of a harsh, almost hostile planet. Inside these mini-oases life is in full swing – you can even look inside to see how the colonists work, rest and interact with each other.

But not everything is so smooth. The system of connecting buildings raises questions – all modules are connected to each other by long corridors, which take up a lot of resources. Why can’t everything be made more compact, for example, by connecting the modules directly or using short gateways? Such a solution not only seems illogical, but also complicates the layout of the base, taking up useful space.

The realism of the design is also questionable. Metal-plastic domes, especially under the threat of meteorite bombardment, do not look very reliable. But the developers probably did this for the sake of simplicity — after all, it’s hard to imagine colonists carrying concrete and drilling equipment to the other end of the galaxy, even with a stretch. But the diversity of landscapes is another weak point. Regardless of where you are — on an icy desert or a sandy plain — the surrounding world will be the same: hills, plains, a few rocks. No glaciers, lakes, canyons or caves. Everything is too simple and predictable, especially for a game that takes place in deep space.

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Surviving Planetbase: Taking Care of Colonists and Resources

Planetbase skillfully absorbs the spirit of the old The Sims – especially in how you need to take care of the colonists. Their general condition is assessed by six indicators: health, oxygen level, fatigue, mood, satiety and water balance. As soon as one of these parameters drops, the person’s efficiency immediately drops. And if we are talking about oxygen or food – this is already critical: having reached zero, the character simply dies. Without the right to rehabilitation. To keep the colonists happy, it is not enough to just build them a dining room or a bedroom. You will have to think about rest: gyms, bars – all this is important. But despite the efforts, life in the colony is far from a holiday: everything comes down to the cycle of “work-food-sleep-rest-work”. Given the harsh space setting, there are no sports competitions or concerts. And the resource base is modest: metal, bioplastic and spare parts. Food is a separate story, but also not very sophisticated.

Energy, water and air are the holy trinity of survival in Planetbase. The loss of any of these resources, even for a short time, can turn into a tragedy. It has happened more than once: at the most inopportune moment, the system would turn off, and my entire colony would die in a matter of minutes. Or – in slightly more “successful” cases – I would lose up to half of the population.

Here are three resources without which the colony will not last long:

• Electricity – powers all systems, including life support.
• Water – is necessary for both drinking and food production.
• Oxygen – without it, it is impossible to survive in a confined space.

When you start designing your base, keep in mind that buildings can have multiple levels. They expand both in width and upwards, opening up new production opportunities. But everything comes at a price: such buildings consume more resources both during construction and during operation.

Mistakes, accidents and harsh reality: Planetbase gameplay without embellishment

When it comes to the gameplay itself, Planetbase turns out to be much less simple than you might think after the first paragraphs. At first glance, it seems that everything is elementary – build a base, install solar panels, and you can calmly observe the life of the colony. But not everything is so smooth. We will definitely analyze the survival strategy in more detail in a separate article, but for now it is worth admitting that the developers managed to perfectly convey how difficult it is to create coziness and stability on an alien, inhospitable planet. Yes, the game as a whole is not overloaded with complex mechanics: you do not need to manage each colonist individually, build complex production chains or spend hours micromanaging. Most tasks are performed automatically, and the player only sets the vector of development. However, this does not mean that the game is easy.

In fact, everything is quite the opposite. Even a banal task – to build a base that will not die out by dawn – can turn into a real challenge. And if you have coped with this, do not relax: the real difficulties are still ahead. It is important to be able to plan ahead, wisely allocate resources and catch signs of impending trouble, rather than putting out fires after the fact.

The main difficulty is that most problems are random. The sun can suddenly hide behind clouds, and the generator can fail at the most inopportune moment. In addition, the game is regularly shaken by extreme weather conditions such as sandstorms or solar flares. They pose a serious danger both to the colonists themselves and to all the equipment remaining on the surface. It is impossible to prepare for such scenarios. The first attempts to build at least somewhat stable colony will almost certainly fail. And if you think that you have already understood how everything works here, most likely, you are in for a surprise. The training only gives a basic idea, but the real gameplay unfolds according to its own rules.

And everything would be fine, but Planetbase is not without annoying shortcomings. For example, the save system looks extremely clumsy. You can’t just load the game on the fly – you have to go to the main menu first. All saves – be they different bases or autosaves – are dumped in one heap. By the way, autosaves happen once every half hour, and even that doesn’t work when you start a new game. But there was room in the menu for a list of developers and settings. The priorities were apparently set rather strangely.

Is Planetbase worth playing?

In the world of business simulators and construction strategies, something as hardcore as Planetbase hasn’t been released for a long time. If you’re sure you’re on first-name terms with games of this genre, it’s time to test your skills — Planetbase definitely won’t let you relax. You won’t be able to build a colony using a template: to find a working strategy, you’ll have to return to previous saves more than once or twice, trying new approaches and correcting mistakes.

The game requires the player to pay attention to detail and be able to plan several steps ahead. You’ll have to:

• Provide the colony with resources (oxygen, food, energy);
• Build infrastructure, taking into account the landscape and the needs of the settlers;
• Monitor the balance of production and consumption;
• Develop the base sustainably, despite external threats and accidents.

But if you’re not a fan of complex games or the genre is simply not your thing, Planetbase might not be the game for you. It’s short on action and spectacle, but long on planning and patience.

Planetbase System Requirements

How to play Planetbase for free on Steam via VpeSports

Have you always wanted to try your hand at building a colony on another planet, but didn’t have the extra money for Planetbase? Great news – now you don’t have to choose between your dream and your wallet. There is a way to start playing for free, and this is no joke.

Everything is simple on the VpeSports website: register, go to a special section with free steam account – and Planetbase is already waiting there. Not a demo, not a cut-down version, but a full-fledged game where you have to fight for survival together with a team of colonists, balancing between oxygen, solar energy and the risk of sudden storms. To access, just open the game page and follow the instructions. No dancing with a tambourine – everything is step-by-step and clear.

When you get the hang of it a little and your base does not fall apart every five minutes (yes, this happens to everyone at the beginning), take a look at the reviews page and share your impressions. A few lines from you can help someone else avoid screwing up — and, what’s nice, you’ll get new login details for your review. All comments are moderated, so if your review isn’t approved right away, just adjust it according to the advice — and everything will be okay.

To stay up to date with new games, instructions, and not get lost when something suddenly doesn’t launch, subscribe to our Telegram and also chat. There’s a really lively crowd there: they help, give advice, sometimes just joke about how another colony died from lack of water. And if you want a detailed guide with tricks for launching Planetbase and other games — it’s already waiting for you on the site.