Petit Planet is Hoyoverse’s first step into the cozy life sim genre, making an Animal Crossing-like type of game that’s going to be free to play. I recently spent a lot of time in the first beta test, the Coziness Test, and I’m genuinely impressed with what they’ve created so far. If you’re a fan of life sims or cozy games, this is definitely a game you should keep an eye out for.
What Is Petit Planet?
At its core, Petit Planet tasks you with nurturing and growing your own planet in a galaxy of your choosing. Other players in the game will also have their own planets that you can visit, and as you complete quests, collect items, bond with the adorable animal Neighbors, and expand your planet, you’ll unlock new features and mechanics that let your world flourish.
Character Creation and Starting Out
The game kicks off with a cutscene that kind of explains the world and the concept behind why you are going to be doing what you’re doing. You then create your own character, though I will say the customization options feel a bit limited right now. There are only four skin and eye color options along with a handful of hairstyles, but I’m optimistic they will expand these choices, especially considering how detailed and creative the clothing items become as you progress.
After naming yourself and entering your birthday, you’ll get customize a title using preset word combinations, including your Myers Briggs personality type, which was a fun touch. Next comes choosing your starting galaxy, with two options featuring different terrain and climates and you’ll meet your first Neighbors, who each play specific roles in your planet’s development.
Core Gameplay Mechanics
Like most life sims, Petit Planet offers a variety of activities. You can fish, catch bugs, cook, gather resources, and craft items. The fishing and bug-catching mechanics feel forgiving and enjoyable. Miss a bug? It’ll stick around, giving you another chance. This is a welcome change from games where missing a swing means completely missing out on the bug.
I spent hours collecting items because there’s real incentive to do so (and because it’s actually really fun). The Collection Guide gives you completion goals, and the Ecohouse (the game’s museum) lets you display everything you’ve found. Collecting is one of my favorite things to do in a game like this and Petit Planet nails it.
Building and Decorating
Once you’ve settled in, Mobai, essentially the game’s Tom Nook-esque character, hands you a house-building kit (with no loan to repay). You can place buildings directly, but I found the easiest way to plan and place everything is doing so with Planetmaker.
Planetmaker is a top-down, zoomed-out view of your entire planet where you can freely place and move items around without the frustration of being locked to your character. If you’re like me and want everything positioned perfectly, this feature is great.
As for interior decoration, you’ll quickly go from limited options to an abundance of furniture choices through Inspo cards. Inspo cards function as recipes or blueprints that unlock new crafting options. You can find them by shaking trees, completing quests, catching shooting stars, or being gifted or buying them from NPCs. The variety is impressive, I received everything from phone booths to EV charging stations. If decorating is your primary draw to games like this, I think you will be pleasantly surprised.
There’s even a rating system for your decorated spaces, giving you a concrete goal to work toward as you continually level up your home’s appeal.
Neighbors and Relationships
Each Neighbor has unique quests, personalities, and backstories that unfold as you strengthen your bond with them. The dialogue feels fresh and alive, with characters constantly offering new interactions that make the world feel dynamic. You can also decorate and upgrade their own specific homes, adding another layer of customization if you prefer to be in control of the look of everything.
Social Features and Multiplayer
Petit Planet introduces you to the social gameplay pretty early on with a vehicle that enables two key features: visiting the Galactic Bazaar and going on Starsea Voyages.
The Galactic Bazaar is the multiplayer hub where you can chat with other players (or use emotes if you’re more introverted like me), compete in mini-games, and earn prizes. You can participate in a rhythm game, try your luck with a spinning wheel guessing game, and claim rewards, The wheel is actually quite generous even if you don’t guess the correct number. The prize booth offers unique items like instruments, outfit pieces, and special two-player emotes.
Starsea Voyages appear to be the primary way you encounter new Neighbors to recruit to your planet. Your vehicle requires a battery that depletes as you travel, allowing you to visit around two planets before needing a recharge. You can purchase new batteries from the in-game store, though I’m hopeful they also recharge over time. This is where I suspect the monetization will come into play, which is something to be aware of going forward.
Final Thoughts
What I love most about Petit Planet is that everything you do feels meaningful. Whether you’re completing quests, filling your collection guide, or bonding with Neighbors, your actions directly contribute to your planet’s growth and unlocking new gameplay features.
I’m genuinely excited about Petit Planet’s potential. Since this was a data-wipe beta, I’m holding back from investing too much time and progress, but when Petit Planet officially launches, I plan to dive in.
Disclosure: I am part of the Petit Planet Creator Club. This review is not sponsored, and all opinions are my own.