Planet Plunder
A short sci-fi RTS: mine iron, build a robot squad and take on the planet's guardian.
by wafflehorse
What is Planet Plunder?
Why Planet Plunder is on Unfound
The release post was a top post of the quarter on r/playmygame, and the one itch rating so far is five stars; commenters there praise the loop, the robot controls and the music.
✓ Passes the Unfound bar59 upvotes on RedditWhat's the bar?
What players say
Highlights
- Hand-written C++ engine, with music the developer played on a Roland S-1
- Build a robot squad and base by day, defend it by night
- Research upgrades and robot mods before the guardian fight
Keep in mind
- Keyboard and mouse: WASD to move, mouse to aim, number keys for robot types
- Short, built around a single guardian fight; one comment reports getting stuck after pressing E at an already-opened chest
About Planet Plunder
You move your character with WASD and aim with the mouse, holding left-click to mine or repair and right-clicking to send robots to a target or location. The number keys pick robot types, Q and G tell your gatherers to follow you or hold position, and iron deposited at a depot funds buildings, more robots and research that unlocks upgrades and robot mods. Once your squad is ready you activate the guardian and fight it.
Read the full description
The developer wrote the game largely from scratch in C-style C++ over eight months and recorded the music on a Roland S-1, with pixel art by @penusbmic; the post describes it as loosely inspired by StarCraft and Vampire Survivors. It is a compact first release for RTS players who want one satisfying loop rather than a campaign, and comments already ask for more units and buildings.
Who is Planet Plunder for?
- Fans of Vampire Survivors who enjoyed short, chaotic runs where you grow absurdly powerful against endless hordes.
Planet Plunder FAQ
Is Planet Plunder free?
Yes. It plays free in the browser on itch.io, and the Windows download is pay what you want, so you can take it for nothing or tip the developer.
What do you do in Planet Plunder?
Gather iron, deposit it at a depot, build a base and a squad of robots, research upgrades, and then take on the planet's relic guardian. Nights are dangerous, so build up by day.
What engine does Planet Plunder use?
None off the shelf. The developer wrote it largely from scratch in C-style C++, with SDL for the platform layer and OpenGL for rendering.
