You've probably seen the ads or heard the buzz in Discord—Planet Crusher: Mine & Attack is having a bit of a moment right now. It’s that oddly satisfying mobile game where you pilot a massive drill-ship, chew through planetary crusts, and try not to explode before you hit the core.
Honestly? It's addictive.
But with the recent jump to Planet Crusher latest version 0.25.0, a lot has changed under the hood. Gryphon Games has been aggressive with their patch schedule, and if you haven't checked your app store in the last 48 hours, you’re likely sitting on an outdated build. This isn't just a "bug fixes and stability" update, though there’s plenty of that too.
What’s Actually New in the Latest Version?
The big talking point in the community right now is the fix for Saw Blades. In previous builds, the physics for these were, frankly, broken. They’d clip through terrain or fail to register damage on certain ore veins. Version 0.25.0 finally stabilizes their behavior, making them a viable alternative to the standard laser builds that have dominated the meta for months.
Then there’s the Hive Storm reward distribution.
If you’ve played the Hive Storm event recently, you know the frustration of finishing a grueling run only to get a payout that felt... light. The devs acknowledged a backend error that was capping rewards incorrectly. That's been squashed. Now, the loot you see is actually the loot you get.
The Ronin IV Controversy
We have to talk about the ship everyone is eyeing: the Ronin IV. Introduced during the Black Friday/Winter cycles, this legendary ship has been a nightmare for the devs to balance. In the 0.24.0 and 0.25.0 updates, they’ve had to issue specific fixes for it in Adventure Fights. Apparently, the Solar Blade weapon was either too "bursty" or just outright refusing to fire in certain PvE scenarios.
It feels better now.
Is it worth the $99 price tag some regions are seeing? That’s a tough one. Most long-term players suggest sticking to the Falcon III or a high-tier Void Breaker build unless you're aiming for the absolute top of the PvP leaderboards.
Understanding the Roguelike Mechanics
What separates Planet Crusher from a basic idle game is the "build" variety. We’re talking over 3 million possible perk combinations.
When you dive into a planet, you’re basically playing a mini-roguelike. You pick perks on the fly. Do you want more drilling power to hit the core faster? Or do you invest in shields because those alien swarms are getting aggressive?
The latest version has subtly tweaked the weight of these perks.
- Mining Builds: Still the best for raw resource farming. Focus on Drill Speed and Ore Magnet.
- PvP Arena Builds: Speed is king. If you can’t dodge the missiles, your HP won't matter.
- Survival Builds: These rely heavily on the newly buffed Saw Blades and defensive drones.
Performance and Technical Reality
Let’s be real—this game is a resource hog. The 0.25.0 update is about 358MB on iOS and slightly smaller on Android. If you're running anything older than an iPhone 12 or a mid-range Android from 2022, you might see some frame drops during the transition when a planet finally "cracks."
Gryphon Games added snowflake particles and high-fidelity textures in the December 0.23.1 update, and while they look great, they definitely tax the GPU.
📖 Related: Stellar Blade Skip Cutscenes: Why You Can’t Always Fast-Forward EVE
If your phone is running hot, go into the settings. Disable the extra particle effects. Your battery will thank you, and honestly, the core gameplay—crushing planets—doesn't need the extra glitter to be fun.
The Paywall Problem
I’d be doing you a disservice if I didn't mention the monetization. Planet Crusher latest version still pushes the "Epic Pass" and "Legendary Pass" pretty hard. You’ll see pop-ups for "1200% Value" deals.
It’s annoying.
However, the game is still perfectly playable as a F2P (Free to Play) experience if you have patience. The Research Facility is your best friend here. Use your Research Coins to reroll stats rather than spending Gems. It’s a slower burn, but it saves your wallet.
How to Get the Most Out of Version 0.25.0
If you're just starting or coming back after a break, don't just mindlessly drill.
🔗 Read more: Why Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver for the PS1 Still Feels Like the Future
First, join a Guild. The social systems were overhauled recently, and the Guild bonuses for resource collection are significant. Second, check the Daily Quests. They’re the most reliable way to get Artifact Keys without opening your purse.
The "tap & hold" feature in the Research Facility is also a massive quality-of-life improvement. No more frantic tapping to level up your upgrades. Just hold it down and watch the bar fill. It sounds small, but for veteran players, it’s a godsend.
Expert Strategy for 2026
Stop trying to clear every planet 100%.
The meta in the current version is all about Deep Mining. Drill a straight line to the core, grab the high-value gems, and get out. Clearing the surface rock is a waste of time and ship durability. You want to maximize your "Loot per Second," not your "Loot per Planet."
Next Steps for Players:
- Check your version: Ensure you are on 0.25.0 to avoid the Saw Blade physics bugs.
- Audit your gear: If you're using Ronin IV, verify your Solar Blade is actually dealing damage in Adventure mode.
- Optimize Research: Focus all your Research Coins on Drill Penetration and Engine Heat Sink first; these are the two biggest bottlenecks for reaching the core in higher-level systems.
- Save your Gems: Don't spend them on revives. It's almost always better to let the ship blow up, take the 50% loot penalty (or watch an ad to save it), and start a fresh run with better perks.