Spaceplan

Lore & Background

Spaceplan began as a 2016 clicker web game created by Jake Hollands. Its premise involves a player stranded on a ship orbiting an unknown planet, relying solely on potatoes as a power source. The gameplay loop centers on gathering resources to unlock stronger tools, which in turn accelerate resource collection.

In 2017, an expanded version was published by Devolver Digital and released on 3 May for Android, iOS, macOS, and Microsoft Windows—one day earlier than its planned launch of 4 May. The expanded edition received an aggregate score of 89/100 for its iOS edition, with critics praising its narrative sci-fi elements as an improvement over the otherwise simplistic clicker mechanics.

Reviewers highlighted the game's humor and clever storytelling, though some noted its short length. Carter Dotson of TouchArcade gave it a perfect 100/100, calling it a "cool and engaging experience." Jim Squires of Gamezebo rated it 90/100, commending the narrative as "funny" and "clever" while criticizing its brevity. Christian Valentin of Pocket Gamer awarded 4/5 stars, describing the game as "uniquely enjoyable and humorous." Lauren Morton of PC Gamer remarked that it "makes an argument for a new niche genre."

Reader's Guide

Spaceplan is notable for demonstrating how narrative and humor can elevate the clicker genre, which is often criticized for repetitive, shallow gameplay. Critics universally praised the game's sci-fi story and witty writing, with TouchArcade's Carter Dotson giving it a perfect score and recommending it even to genre skeptics. The game's aggregate iOS score of 89/100 reflects strong critical reception. Its short length was a common point of criticism, but reviewers like Jim Squires and Christian Valentin found the experience uniquely enjoyable. Lauren Morton's comment that the game "makes an argument for a new niche genre" suggests it influenced discussions about the potential for storytelling in incremental games. The expanded version's release by Devolver Digital, a prominent indie publisher, also helped bring the title to a wider audience across multiple platforms. Spaceplan remains a reference point for how minimalistic mechanics can be paired with engaging narrative to create a memorable experience.

Did You Know?

• The game's only power source is potatoes.
• The expanded version was released a day earlier than its intended launch date of 4 May.
• Carter Dotson of TouchArcade rated the game 100/100.
• Lauren Morton of PC Gamer said it 'makes an argument for a new niche genre.'