Pathea Games may have just struck us right in the heart strings. They’ve released a free Alpha version of their new game Planet Explorers. The very first 0.1 version offers exactly what the title might indicate: planetary exploration. Yet, this expanded simplicity is exactly what makes it so appealing.

As the story goes, colony ships that were sent out in 2287 crash onto some highly uninviting habitat. From there, players must try their best to survive. It will be possible to customize a character and create weaponry, along with creating whatever your heart desires. Anywhere in the world, explorers can erect buildings, set up defenses or create vehicles to adventure through the land. In the meantime, the indigenous wildlife will need to be kept at bay. In short, it’s a true adventurer’s environment where the only goal is survival and the only limit is your own ingenuity.

While the first playable release is still basic, it will eventually release more content, such as missions and story-driven gameplay. Later, there will also be a cooperative and multiplayer component added. Singleplayer experience will run on a set mapped out environment, though multiplayer will probably include some procedurally created scenery.

Before anyone starts making the obligatory comparison to Minecraft, not every game is Notch’s masterpiece. Planet Explorers has multiple unique traits and is hardly the only game to work with endless sandbox capabilities. The developers even mention Outcast as a reference, since it’s also voxel based; we believe this Belgian turn-of-the-century classic is indeed a strong connection.

Treat yourself to the free Alpha here.