The Planet Crafter is a blend of survival and sci-fi crafting, where players reshape planets by unlocking blueprints and technologies. The goal is to stabilize tectonic activity, manage heat levels, and establish a thriving ecosystem with water, flora, and fauna.
There are 6 distinct starting areas in The Planet Crafter, each posing its own set of challenges due to the impact on the crafting system. While many players opt for the beginner-friendly Starting Valley, seasoned players may prefer the more demanding locations like Sand Falls, Meteor Crater, or Ice Plains.
6 Starting Valley
Easy Start For New Players
Good for:
- Abundant crash sites with free resources and consumables to scavenge.
- Close proximity to the resource-rich Central Plateau area at the map's center.
Bad for:
- Prone to flooding, leading to complete submersion in the late game.
- Lacks easy access to crucial resources like Volnus Seeds or Plant Orema.
Starting in the Starting Valley places players in a favorable position with ample surface resources and expansive flat land for base construction. However, the area becomes uninhabitable once flooding occurs, necessitating a base relocation.
5 Waterfall
Cascades Of Water In Late Game Stages
Good for:
- Transforms into a breathtaking area with cascading water post terraforming.
- Proximity to resource-rich sites like Meteor Crater and Meteor Field.
- Convenient access to the Mushroom River.
Bad for:
- Limited flat land complicates large base construction.
- Scarcity of ground resources with only one nearby crash site.
Although initially a desert, the Waterfall location evolves into a spectacular site with multiple waterfalls as terraforming progresses. Unlike other areas, it avoids submersion, making it a viable permanent base.
4 Grand Rift
Easy Access To Fissionables
Good for:
- Proximity to critical areas like Osmium Tunnel and Iridium Cave.
- Close to the Uranium Cave region.
- Ample Plant Orema Seeds availability.
Bad for:
- Parts of the area containing Osmium and Iridium become submerged in late game stages.
The Grand Rift, with its vast canyon, offers convenient access to late-game fissionable materials and abundant flat spaces for base construction. However, flooding can hinder access to submerged resources once terraforming is underway.
3 Sand Falls
Great Access To Early Game Resources
Good for:
- Abundance of early-game resources for collection.
- Easy reach to Plant Volnus Seeds and close proximity to the Osmium Cave.
Bad for:
- Ice blocks the primary entrance to the Iridium Mine, requiring a lengthy detour.
- Lack of local crash sites for immediate resource gathering.
Sand Falls, characterized by its dramatic sand cascades, provides a rich source of early game resources. However, players must navigate around ice barriers to access crucial resources like Iridium, making resource collection a challenging task.