It happened. After years of radio silence and a studio acquisition that felt like a death knell, we finally got a look at Revenge of the Savage Planet. Honestly, it’s a miracle it exists at all. If you remember the first game, Journey to the Savage Planet, it was this neon-soaked, darkly hilarious satire of corporate greed and space exploration. Then Google bought Typhoon Studios. Then Google shut down Stadia. Everyone assumed the IP was buried in a digital graveyard somewhere.
But Raccoon Logic, the indie outfit formed by the original creators, clawed it back. They didn’t just make a sequel; they made something that feels twice as cynical and four times as bright.
What is Revenge of the Savage Planet?
Basically, it's a direct follow-up to the 2020 cult hit. You’re back in the boots of a Kindred Aerospace employee—or rather, a former employee who has been "downsized" in the most literal, cosmic sense. The premise is peak satire. Kindred has essentially fired you, and you're stranded on a series of alien worlds with nothing but a sassy AI and a 3D printer that mostly makes junk.
It’s an action-adventure game. You jump. You shoot. You slap weird aliens. But mostly, you explore.
The shift here is the "Return" aspect. While the first game was about discovering a single planet (ARY-26), the sequel leans into a multi-world structure. It’s bigger. Way bigger. But bigger isn't always better in gaming, right? Sometimes it just means more walking. Thankfully, Raccoon Logic seems to have focused on density rather than just raw square footage. Each new biome feels like a curated playground of physics-based puzzles and creatures that look like they were designed by someone who ate too many gummy bears before bed.
The gameplay loop hasn't changed, but the stakes have
You still spend a lot of time scanning things. Everything. Plants, rocks, bird-like creatures with too many eyes. Scanning earns you data, and data earns you upgrades.
What’s different now is the gear. In the first game, you had a simple jetpack and a grapple. In Revenge of the Savage Planet, the traversal is much more fluid. There’s this new "goo" mechanic where you can manipulate the environment to create platforms or trampolines on the fly. It feels less like a rigid platformer and more like a sandbox where you’re constantly breaking the world to get where you aren't supposed to go.
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Why the tone matters more than the graphics
Let's talk about the humor. Most "funny" games are exhausting. They try too hard. They reference memes that died three years ago. Kindred Aerospace, however, is a very specific brand of corporate horror. It’s the "we’re a family here" vibe of a company that would actually sell your organs to hit a quarterly goal.
The live-action commercials return. These were the highlight of the first game—weird, distorted ads for products like "Groob" or "Meat Buddy." In the sequel, these ads are even more unhinged. They poke fun at the current state of the tech industry, AI-generated slop, and the gig economy. It’s biting because it feels a little too real.
The voice acting for your AI companion is equally sharp. It’s that perfect mix of helpful and condescending. It reminds you that you’re a replaceable cog in a machine that doesn't care if you breathe or not.
It isn't just a "More of the Same" sequel
Some critics might say it’s just a retread. They're wrong. The introduction of third-person perspective is a massive shift. The first game was strictly first-person, which made the platforming a bit tricky for some. Now, you can toggle. This changes the "feel" of exploration. You see your character—who is usually dressed in a ridiculous, ill-fitting space suit—reacting to the environment. It adds a layer of physical comedy that was missing before.
Then there’s the co-op.
Playing this alone is fine. Playing it with a friend is chaotic. The physics engine allows for some truly stupid interactions. You can slap your partner into a carnivorous plant. You can "accidentally" detonate a gas bladder while they're standing next to it. It’s the kind of emergent gameplay that makes for great clips but even better memories.
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The technical side of things
Technically, the game is a vibrant punch to the face. The colors are loud. The frame rate, at least on current-gen consoles and PC, stays remarkably stable despite the amount of particle effects on screen. Raccoon Logic opted for a stylized look rather than photorealism, which was a smart move. It means the game won't look "old" in three years.
- Vibrant Biomes: From underwater caves to floating islands.
- Improved AI: The creatures don't just stand there; they interact with each other.
- Deep Crafting: You aren't just making a better gun; you're building a kit.
The soundtrack is another winner. It’s got that space-country-synth-pop vibe that shouldn't work but somehow defines the entire experience. It’s the sound of a lonely pioneer trying to keep their sanity while being chased by a "Pufferbird."
Addressing the "Savage Planet" controversies
Every game has its detractors. Some players found the combat in the first game a bit floaty. In Revenge of the Savage Planet, the shooting feels punchier. The feedback loops—the sounds, the visual flinch of the enemies—are tightened up. It’s not Doom Eternal, but it’s a significant step up.
Another point of contention was the length. The original was a tight 8–10 hour experience. People wanted more. This sequel is easily double that, but it avoids the "Ubisoft bloat." You aren't clearing towers or checking off 500 identical icons. Every discovery feels like it was placed there by a human being, not an algorithm.
How to get the most out of your first playthrough
If you’re jumping into this, don't rush. Seriously. The temptation is to blast through the main objectives to see the next planet. Don't do that. The best parts of Revenge of the Savage Planet are hidden in the corners of the map.
- Scan everything: Not just for the upgrades, but for the flavor text. It's where the best jokes are hidden.
- Experiment with the bait: You have different types of bait that affect creatures in different ways. You can start a mini-war between species if you play your cards right.
- Check the ads: Watch the videos in your ship. They change as you progress and they are genuinely funny.
Is it worth the price?
In an era of $70 "Quadruple-A" games that feel like chores, this is a breath of fresh air. It’s a game that knows it’s a game. It doesn't want to be your second job. It wants you to have a weird, colorful, slightly disturbing time for 20 hours and then move on with your life.
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The industry needs more of this. We need more mid-budget games with actual personality. Raccoon Logic took a risk by sticking to their guns and keeping the tone consistent with the original, despite the massive gap between releases. It paid off.
Actionable Steps for New Explorers
If you're ready to dive back into the madness, start by checking your hardware. This game loves high-speed SSDs because of the world-swapping mechanics. If you're on PC, make sure your drivers are updated for the latest Unreal Engine build it's running on.
Next, grab a friend. While solo play is great for soaking in the atmosphere, the co-op is where the true "savage" nature of the game shines. Coordinate your upgrades so one of you focuses on combat while the other focuses on traversal gear. This allows you to access late-game areas much earlier than intended.
Finally, keep an eye on the community challenges. Raccoon Logic has hinted at post-launch content that isn't just DLC, but world-altering events based on player choices. It's a living world, even if everything in it is trying to eat you.
Get out there, explore, and try not to die. Kindred Aerospace doesn't pay for funeral services.
Next Steps for Success:
- Audit your gear early: Focus on the "Blight Stabilizer" upgrade first; it makes the initial swamp biome much less frustrating.
- Invest in the "Photo Mode": This game is incredibly photogenic, and the developers often run contests for the best creature captures.
- Master the "Slap": The melee attack isn't just for damage; it’s a physics tool. Use it to knock enemies into hazards rather than wasting ammo.