When HoYoverse first revealed Petit Planet, it was quite a surprise for me. Known mostly for action RPGs and gacha-heavy titles, the idea of a “cosmic life simulation” sounded unusual coming from the studio, so that’s the reason I was super excited, and immediately jumped in to test this game when it opened.
But after spending time with the recent Stardrift test, I could say that the game is aiming for something much more relaxed and comfort-focused, closer to a cozy life sim than a traditional HoYoverse experience. So here are my compiled thoughts on how my first impression of Petit Planet was, without spoiling your future experience!
If you don’t know already, Petit Planet is coming to Mobile and PC as a free-to-play title with cross-platform functionality.
Building your planet feels like so much fun
Right out of the gate, the game is bright, charming, and incredibly polished, which is exactly what youād expect from this studio. When I started the game, I was given the option to choose my planet from different biomes. For now, I found that there are two options in this Standrift test, but I’m hoping that there will be more options when the game finally launches globally.
I started as a planet tender for an organization called Lumio and was tasked with cultivating and bringing life to petite planets across the galaxy.
The Luca Seed is presented first, acts as the center of the new planet’s progression. Instead of leveling up through menus or missions alone, you grow your world naturally by collecting Luca essence through activities like fishing, gathering, and exploration. As the seed evolves, your planet expands alongside it, unlocking new resources, buildings, and areas over time.
The overall presentation also leaves a strong first impression. The colorful art style and adorable chibi-like characters fit the game’s relaxing atmosphere. I am not surprised by this; it has always been one of HoYo’s biggest strengths.
Most of the gameplay revolves around decorating, farming, crafting, and creature collection, all at a slower and more relaxing pace. I might be early to judge this, but I felt this flow was very neat and helped a lot to explore better. There is, however, a hunger mechanic that encourages us to cook open-ended recipes.
I went into this beta with high expectations for the technical side, and thankfully, it delivered. Performance-wise, the game runs incredibly smoothly. Playing on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 powered OnePlus 12R Genshin Impact limited edition, I didn’t notice any complaints apart from a few occasional lags, negligible if you ask me. Ping was very stable throughout my gameplay.
Social features and neighbors add personality to the world
Petit Planet is also good at the short-session aspect. Instead of trying to keep us online for hours to grind, it feels more like a comfort game you casually return to every day to check shops, talk to neighbors, or finish a few relaxing tasks. But yes, it does carry enough attraction for us to spend hours, though, that’s another story.
We also have some Neighbors in the picture, who quickly became one of my favorite parts of the experience. These adorable furry NPCs can move onto your planet, evolve through special items, and even unlock rewards or permanent changes to your island.
As for interactions, we can visit each other’s planets, browse homes, purchase items from shops, and freely interact with different worlds. Public areas like the Galactic Bazaar also make the game feel more alive, thanks to small activities like rhythm mini-games, campfire storytelling sessions, and player interactions.
The more time I spent exploring the stuff, the more I got addicted. I’ll be honest, as a beta, Petit Planet delivered way more than my expectations.
Final Thoughts
Petit Planet isn’t trying to be the kind of game where you endlessly grind for power or chase constant progression. Instead, it feels more like a comfort game you return to at the end of the day. The cozy atmosphere works really well, the controls feel smooth and responsive, and the social features are surprisingly detailed for a life sim.
I did like it, but I would say the current slower pace may not click with everyone. But if you enjoy relaxing games where you can just sit back and gradually build your own little world, Petit Planet is definitely one to keep an eye on before release.
It already has enough charm and personality to stand alongside other big names in the genre while bringing that distinct HoYoverse level of polish. Do I see it succeeding? Absolutely.
More first impression reviews on other games:
- Cricket All Stars first impression: High potential mobile cricket experience that can take the throne
- Totopia first impression: A Colorful Mix of Relaxation and Chaos
- Monster Hunter Outlanders first impression: An ambitious RPG with blockbuster visuals
- KICK BUDS playtest first impression:Ā A fun idea that struggles where it matters
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