# Planet Plunder

> A short sci-fi RTS: mine iron, build a robot squad and take on the planet's guardian.

Planet Plunder is a short real-time strategy game by wafflehorse in which you gather iron, build a small base and a team of robots, and then take on the relic guardian of the planet. Days are safe and nights are dangerous, so you balance firepower now against economy later. It plays free in the browser, with a pay-what-you-want Windows download.

## Key facts

- Developer: wafflehorse: https://unfoundgames.in/studios/wafflehorse
- Released: Oct 11, 2026
- Genre: Strategy and Survival
- Tags: Pixel Art, Short
- Platforms: Web Browser, Windows
- Price: Free (Pay what you want)
- Session: about 20 minutes
- Players: Single-player
- Engine: Custom (C-style C++ with SDL and OpenGL)
- Languages: English
- Unfound score: not scored yet (we score a game only after a full playtest)
- Play in browser: https://wafflehorsey.itch.io/planet-plunder
- itch: https://wafflehorsey.itch.io/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.

What players say:
- Top post of the quarter on r/playmygame · 59 upvotes: https://www.reddit.com/r/playmygame/comments/1x3gt5m/i_just_released_planet_plunder_a_free_scifi/
- 5.0 from 1 ratings on itch.io: https://wafflehorsey.itch.io/planet-plunder

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.

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.

## For fans of

- Vampire Survivors: short, chaotic runs where you grow absurdly powerful against endless hordes

## 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.

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Source: https://unfoundgames.in/games/planet-plunder. Checked by Unfound Editors, last checked 2026-10-23.