Survival crafting heads to console with The Planet Crafter, arriving on Xbox Series X|S and included with Xbox Game Pass. It sits in the same space as chill-but-demanding base builders like Subnautica and Astroneer, focusing less on combat and more on turning a hostile world into somewhere you can actually live. The hook is the terraforming loop: you start with basic shelter and oxygen management, then scale up into machines and infrastructure that gradually change the planet itself.
Who is this for?
If you like games where progress is visible in the environment, this is the draw. Early hours lean on scavenging and careful route planning, then shift into automation and expansion as your systems stabilise. Expect a steady rhythm of gathering, crafting and upgrading, with exploration rewarding you with new resources and better tech paths.
- Game Pass inclusion, useful if you want to try it without committing to a full purchase.
- Terraforming focus, your build choices feed into long-term planetary change rather than short missions.
