Revenge of the Savage Planet Review: Weird, Wild and Wonderfully Co-Op

by Luis May 14, 2025

Raccoon Logic’s Revenge of the Savage Planet is the kind of sequel you hope for: bigger, stranger, and far more confident than its predecessor. Released on Xbox with native optimization and slick performance, it builds on the offbeat DNA of Journey to the Savage Planet with more planets, chaos, and, most importantly, more fun. It doesn’t reinvent the action-adventure genre, but it offers a delightfully weird escape, made even better with a co-op partner.

Revenge of the Savage Planet Review: Weird, Wild and Wonderfully Co-Op

– “Revenge of the Savage Planet” is an eclectic genre mash-up that serves as an action-adventure sequel to 2020’s “Journey to the Savage Planet,” boasting increased zaniness, scale, and genre blending including combat, puzzle-solving and exploration elements.
– The narrative follows an intergalactic colonizer seeking revenge on their corporate employer, with the game offering a satirical commentary on corporate greed and mismanagement, enhanced by Selena Gomez’s humorous touch and a shift from first-person to third-person perspective.
– Despite some basic combat, “Revenge of the Savage Planet” provides a distinctive adventure with elements of player customization, exploration, puzzle-solving, and platforming across four lush alien planets.

Set in a satirical sci-fi universe where corporate dystopia is the backdrop for planet-hopping exploration, Revenge of the Savage Planet continues its irreverent tone. You play a low-level explorer for Kindred Aerospace, still somehow the fourth-best interstellar exploration company, tasked with surveying bizarre alien worlds, cataloging local flora and fauna, and not dying in the process. If you do die? Well, you’ve probably signed away your respawn rights anyway.

The biggest shift from the original is the move from a first-person to a third-person perspective, which pays off instantly. Platforming is now much more readable and fluid, especially in tight exploration zones where verticality matters. Combat, while still the least interesting part of the package, benefits from this change too, offering better visibility and movement flow. The controls are responsive and clean on Xbox Series X, and the vibrant visuals pop off the screen with strong HDR support and a crisp 60fps frame rate.

But the real show-stealer here is the expanded planetary variety. Instead of one semi-open world like the original, Revenge takes players across four distinct alien environments, each with its own ecosystem, weather quirks, traversal mechanics, and secrets to uncover. From fungal forests that belch spores to crystalline canyons that shimmer in eerie neon, the world design is imaginative and wildly colorful. Each zone feels crafted with exploration in mind, and getting from point A to B often requires more than just sprinting; expect to jump, grapple, glide, and puzzle your way through terrain that constantly throws curveballs.

And then there’s the co-op. Simply put, this is one of the most co-op-friendly exploration games on Xbox right now. Whether you’re playing online or split-screen, the integration is seamless. Both players share progression, gear upgrades, and mission advancement, making it feel like a true joint effort rather than one player tagging along. It’s the kind of game where teamwork can make simple traversal hilarious, and a bad jump into a pit of acid somehow becomes a bonding moment. The tone and systems encourage experimentation and laughter rather than stress, making it a perfect match for duo sessions.

The game also leans into metroidvania-style design, rewarding backtracking with new traversal tools. Unlocking abilities like the Grav Grapple or jet-boosted double jumps opens up new paths in previously explored zones. To some that’s frustrating, but we love a good metroidvania. It’s a satisfying loop, especially for completionists and players who like to check every corner of the map. The creature scanning and research mechanics are simple but fun, adding a layer of progression that complements the game’s humor as well.

The writing remains gleefully absurd, with constant jabs at capitalism, bureaucracy, and gaming tropes. While not every joke lands, the commitment to the bit is admirable. From AI companions who belittle your existence to advertisements for corporate cloning programs, the world feels alive with personality… albeit a personality that might need therapy.

That said, Revenge of the Savage Planet isn’t without flaws. Combat is still serviceable but forgettable, relying on basic blaster action and weak enemy AI. Boss fights are more puzzles than tests of skill, and repetition can creep in if you focus too long on fights rather than exploration. A few technical hiccups, like minor visual bugs or environmental clipping, can break immersion, though these are rare and easily patched.

Also, while co-op is excellent, solo players might find the pacing a bit slow, especially during stretches where objectives feel more like box-checking than meaningful discovery. The game is still enjoyable solo, but the zany world feels best when shared with someone else.

Revenge of the Savage Planet is exactly what a sequel should be: more creative, more refined, and more fun. With smart enhancements like third-person perspective, multiple planets to explore, and excellent co-op support, it transforms the original’s clever premise into something far more memorable. While combat and pacing aren’t perfect, the game’s heart lies in exploration, humor, and shared discovery. For Xbox players looking for a lighthearted, colorful, and surprisingly deep action-adventure, this one’s well worth the trip.