Avinash Rohra I’ve developed a sixth sense for sequels that coast on nostalgia—games that repackage the past with a fresh coat of paint but lack the spark of their predecessors. When Revenge of the Savage Planet landed on my desk, I braced for disappointment. After all, its predecessor, Journey to the Savage Planet, was a cult hit—charming but rough around the edges, the kind of game you recommend with caveats.
But within hours of booting it up, my skepticism melted like alien goo under a plasma torch. This isn’t just a sequel; it’s a reinvention. A game that takes the DNA of the original—the humor, the exploration, the satire—and amplifies it into something stranger, sharper, and more soulful. By the time I’d finished my first playthrough (clocking in at 22 hours, according to my save file), I was convinced: Revenge of the Savage Planet isn’t just one of the best games of 2025—it’s a manifesto for how sequels should evolve. This isn’t just another sequel. It’s a defiant, joyful middle finger to corporate drudgery, wrapped in a neon-colored sci-fi romp. It’s Metroid Prime meets Rick and Morty, with a dash of Tim and Eric absurdity. And if you’re skeptical—as I once was—let me tell you why this game deserves your attention.
Initial Skepticism: The Surface-Level Doubts
At a glance, Revenge of the Savage Planet seems like a sensory overload. The protagonist swaggers like a Saturday morning cartoon hero, the UI blares fake corporate ads, and the landscapes are so neon-bright they border on garish. It’s easy to dismiss it as “just a comedy game”—a Borderlands clone with extra slapstick.
At first glance, Revenge of the Savage Planet seems like a cacophony of gimmicks. A third-person shooter with slapstick physics? A satire about corporate greed dressed in cartoonish alien landscapes? A game where you can decorate your space trailer with a hugging machine? It’s easy to dismiss it as shallow or overly quirky. I’ll admit, I rolled my eyes at the trailer.
But here’s the thing: comedy is hard. For every Portal or Psychonauts, there are a dozen games that mistake “random = funny.” Revenge of the Savage Planet isn’t just funny; it’s smart. Its humor is layered, from broad physical gags (watching your character faceplant into a wall) to biting satire (an HR memo about “voluntary mandatory overtime”). It’s a game that knows when to let a joke breathe—and when to undercut it with something surprisingly poignant.
Why This Game Transcends
Revenge of the Savage Planet isn’t just a sequel—it’s an evolution. The shift from first-person to third-person isn’t just a cosmetic change; it’s a narrative and mechanical triumph. Watching your hapless corporate drone ragdoll off a cliff or flail mid-air isn’t just funny—it’s emotionally resonant. You’re not a hero. You’re a disposable employee, armed with duct-taped gear and a desperate will to survive. The game’s humor is a Trojan horse for its sharp critique of late-stage capitalism, delivered with a clown nose and a sledgehammer.
Comparisons to Journey to the Savage Planet are inevitable, but this is a bigger, bolder, and more confident game. The four planets are distinct ecosystems, each teeming with life and secrets. The traversal—a mix of jetpack dashes, grappling hooks, and goo-powered puzzles—feels like a playground designed by a mad scientist. And the satire? It’s Black Mirror by way of Idiocracy, with corporate poetry about “loyalty metrics” and middle managers arguing over who screwed up the oxygen dispensers.
Satire with a Soul
The story is deceptively simple: you’re a “redundant asset” abandoned by your employer, seeking revenge. But the real narrative is environmental. The world tells its own story—through abandoned outposts, fake motivational messages, and creatures that range from adorable to horrifying. One moment, you’re laughing at a commercial for meat-flavored toothpaste; the next, you’re uncovering logs about employee surveillance. The game’s genius lies in its tonal balance: it’s absurd, cynical, and oddly hopeful.
Thematically, it’s a critique of corporate dehumanization, but it’s also a celebration of resilience. Your character’s jaunty walk—a small detail—says it all: even in the face of oblivion, there’s joy to be found.
A Kinetic Playground
The heart of Revenge of the Savage Planet is movement. Chaining jetpack boosts, wall jumps, and grappling hook swings feels like a ballet of chaos. The goo mechanics—spraying conductive purple goo to solve puzzles or igniting green goo to roast enemies—add layers of creativity. Combat isn’t the focus (and it’s still the weakest link), but it’s serviceable, with smart enemy variety and weapon upgrades.
The Metroidvania-style progression is masterful. Each upgrade opens new paths, rewarding curiosity. And the co-op? It’s a riot. Few games capture the sheer fun of collaborative mischief like this one.
The art direction is a love letter to pulp sci-fi, with bioluminescent caves, floating islands, and creatures that look like they escaped a Ren & Stimpy episode. The soundtrack is equally vibrant, blending synthwave whimsy with eerie ambient tones. It’s a world that begs to be photographed—or at least screenshot and shared.
Standing on the Shoulders of Giants
This game owes debts to Metroid Prime (scanning, exploration), No Man’s Sky (planet-hopping), and Ratchet & Clank (slapstick humor). But it carves its own niche with its satire and sheer personality. It’s not just a game; it’s a vibe.
More Than Just Jokes
Beneath the absurdity lies a surprisingly nuanced story. You play as a colonizer abandoned by Alta Interglobal, a megacorp that’s equal parts Amazon and Wall-E’s Buy n Large. The logs you scavenge paint a picture of a society crumbling under late-stage capitalism—layoffs disguised as “opportunities for growth,” employees gaslit into celebrating their exploitation.
It’s not subtle, but it’s effective. One standout moment: finding a “Wellness Pod” that chirps, “Remember, your worth is measured in productivity!” as it dispenses antidepressants. The game’s tone walks a tightrope, balancing satire with genuine pathos.
The Verdict: A Game That Demands Your Attention
Revenge of the Savage Planet isn’t perfect. The combat can feel repetitive, and the humor won’t land for everyone. But it’s a rare game that dares—to be weird, to be bold, to make you laugh and think in equal measure.
Pros:
✅Unmatched sense of exploration
✅Sharp, layered satire
✅Exhilarating movement mechanics
✅Gorgeous, inventive art design
Cons:
❌Combat lacks depth
❌Occasional pacing issues
❌Some jokes may miss the mark
⭐ Final Verdict: 4.3 / 5 ⭐
This is a game that lingers—in your thoughts, in your laughter, in the way you’ll catch yourself humming its jingles days later. Don’t let its colorful exterior fool you; Revenge of the Savage Planet is a masterpiece of modern absurdism. Play it. Then play it again with a friend. The galaxy is waiting.
Revenge of the Savage Planet was reviewed on PC. Review code was provided by the publisher.
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