The story behind the Savage Planet series has been an intriguing one. Originally developed by Typhoon Studios under the leadership of Alex Hutchinson, the franchise has changed hands multiple times, including a stint as part of Google Stadia’s games initiative. Despite these shifts, the Montreal-based team managed to form a new studio, Raccoon Logic Studios Inc., and secure the rights to the series. Now, they’re back with Revenge of the Savage Planet. This sequel picks up where the first game left off, continuing its tongue-in-cheek satire while preserving the charm that made the original so beloved.
Revenge of the Savage Planet cleverly incorporates the developers’ tumultuous history of mergers and acquisitions into its in-game lore, providing a fresh narrative framework. Players find themselves in deep space, essentially on their own, tasked with settling a new planet. Using their wits, limited knowledge of the world, and a trusty 3D printer, they must build an outpost on a planet teeming with flora and fauna—and creatures eager to make them their next meal.
Despite the challenges, the game offers plenty of opportunities to explore, tackle obstacles in creative ways, and catalogue the diverse flora and fauna, all in the most bombastic fashion possible. If you’ve played the first game, you’ll feel right at home with this sequel. Revenge of the Savage Planet’s visuals maintain the same level of whimsy the series is known for, with a landscape brimming with a variety of creatures and plants—some useful, some odd, and some outright dangerous. This diversity and unique aesthetic help the sequel feel fresh, even while retaining the core concept introduced in the first game.
“Revenge of the Savage Planet’s visuals maintain the same level of whimsy the series is known for, with a landscape brimming with a variety of creatures and plants…”
Revenge of the Savage Planet successfully leans into the satirical nature of the series, making every element feel silly, fun, and engaging, all while delivering mechanics that make the core gameplay loop feel solid and accessible. As a lone explorer stranded on an undiscovered planet, it’s up to you to scan and catalogue everything you encounter, gradually increasing your science level and unlocking new gear. You’ll also need to gather resources from a wide range of sources, all while using third-person mechanics to traverse the vibrant landscape and uncover everything the world has to offer.
During the demo, I had the opportunity to explore a variety of biomes, each featuring unique creatures and missions to tackle. At the start of your time on the planet, you’re left with very little, but through scanning your environment, you gradually learn about the many plants and animals in your immediate area. This scanning process allows you to identify which resources can be harvested, what materials are needed for building at each stage, and what can be accomplished without additional tools or gadgets. It felt reminiscent of the early stages of No Man’s Sky, but with a more purpose-built world and a much more lighthearted sense of humour.
As you progress with your base building and scientific achievements, you unlock a variety of new weapons and gadgets that allow you to better utilize the world around you. Early on, you’ll acquire a gun, and once you combine it with various types of goo to power it, you can tackle a range of puzzles and environmental obstacles. Let me tell you—it’s incredibly fun experimenting with different combinations and seeing how they interact with the world.
I explored several areas, each requiring the use of goo in unique ways, and they all presented creative and entertaining challenges. In one section, you need to use electric goo to link together electric mushrooms and open new pathways. While it seems straightforward at first, it quickly becomes more challenging as you work to avoid the electricity while navigating the area to complete the puzzle. Despite the difficulty, the experience never felt unfair and remained both rewarding and delightfully silly throughout.
“Revenge of the Savage Planet successfully leans into the satirical nature of the series, making every element feel silly, fun, and engaging…”
During the demo, the team emphasized that while you can use your gun to deal with many creatures, it’s just one of several ways to tackle challenges. You can avoid them, engage in hand-to-hand combat, or even use a lasso-like contraption to capture and study the animals. While capturing creatures is more challenging, it allows you to study them and boost your science level, granting access to new gear. This introduces a clear risk-versus-reward element to the game. However, it never feels overwhelming, with each new mechanic offering a fresh way to experiment and explore, opening up a world of playful possibilities.
Although it may sound like Revenge of the Savage Planet juggles a lot of systems, it never feels like too much. The game manages its various elements in fun and rewarding ways. Beyond that, its sense of humour is brilliant, making even mundane tasks feel joyous and lighthearted. The tone adds to the overall experience, making it a delight to play.
The team’s approach to in-game currency is also a clever jab at industry monetization practices. There’s plenty to unlock to decorate your base, but it’s all purely cosmetic, offering no tangible benefit to your character. The upfront acknowledgement of this makes the system both ridiculous and endearing, adding to the game’s charm.
Even from the 45 or so minutes I played of the preview build, I quickly found myself hooked on the mechanics, wanting to explore more and build out my base exactly how I wanted. Even in the short demo, the level of exploration and the strange, unique creatures were already impressive. It’s clear Raccoon Logic is a studio that loves what they do and brings that passion forward in the gameplay and the many elements waiting to be discovered. Beyond that, the sense of humour made it a blast to play. Many games try to nail satire and fail, but Raccoon Logic seems to have struck the perfect balance between delivering fun gameplay and poking fun at the industry—and it’s a joy to experience.
Slated to launch in May 2025, Revenge of the Savage Planet is shaping up to be a game well worth exploring. After playing the session, I found myself wanting to jump back into Journey to the Savage Planet just to whet my appetite for what’s to come. Judging by the scope of the world in this new game, I’ve barely scratched the surface of what the full experience has to offer. Scheduled for release on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC, if you enjoy games that combine exploration, building, and humour, Revenge of the Savage Planet is one you’ll want to keep on your radar.