Petit Planet just entered Closed Beta today as the “Coziness Test,” marking HoYoverse’s debut into the life simulation genre. Available on PC and iOS starting November 7, 2025, this charming cosmic life sim invites players to nurture their own planet, connect with adorable neighbors, and forge a galaxy by building relationships across the stars. Think Animal Crossing meets Stardew Valley by way of Dreamlight Valley, all wrapped in HoYoverse’s signature production quality and wrapped up in the slogan “Weave Your Dreams Beneath the Stars.”
Building Your Cosmic Home
At its heart, Petit Planet follows the life sim blueprint perfected by Animal Crossing. You arrive on a fresh planet with nothing but your character and a helpful fuzzy companion ready to teach you the ropes. From there, you cultivate your world through familiar cozy activities: farming crops, fishing in crystalline waters, decorating your home and landscape, mining for resources, cooking experimental recipes, and gathering with Neighbors. The core loop feels instantly comfortable for anyone who’s spent time in Stardew Valley or Animal Crossing, but HoYoverse executes it with polish and charm.
Your main objective is gradually transforming your barren planet into a thriving world that attracts new residents and unlocks new features. As you care for your planet, you generate Luca – a mysterious life force that fuels the cosmic tree symbolizing your planet’s vitality. As the tree flourishes, new landscapes, terrains, and crops unlock, creating meaningful progression tied directly to your caretaking efforts.
The Neighbors Who Make It Personal
Each Neighbor you invite to your planet brings their own personality, stories, and dreams. Building relationships with these fuzzy inhabitants goes beyond collecting companionship – these Neighbors become your most reliable companions when embarking on Starsea Voyages to unexplored islets. The personal connection layer elevates Petit Planet beyond pure resource management, creating emotional investment in the characters populating your world.
Activities with Neighbors generate additional Luca and deepen bonds, which means socializing isn’t optional busywork – it’s integral to progression. This mirrors the relationship-building mechanics from games like Stardew Valley and Rune Factory, making NPCs feel like genuine friends rather than quest-givers.
Aesthetic as Its Own Statement
Where Petit Planet truly distinguishes itself is through visual design. The game inhabits a charming intersection of folksy and cottagecore styles, featuring vibrant colors that calm rather than overwhelm. There are no harsh angles, no industrial elements – just a wonderfully relaxing space designed for extended habitation. Polygon’s hands-on preview called it “a playlist of cozy gaming’s greatest hits,” emphasizing that while the mechanics feel familiar, the cohesive aesthetic creates something uniquely inviting.
This visual philosophy extends to furniture arrangement and terraforming. Players can design both interior spaces and outdoor environments, with soft curves and organic shapes encouraging creative decoration that feels naturally beautiful rather than aggressively colorful.
The Stamina System and Pacing
Petit Planet implements a stamina system where activities consume energy, forcing deliberate pacing and preventing endless grinding. After expending stamina through cooking, farming, mining, or other tasks, you need to rest or consume food to recover. This mirrors mechanics from similar games like Stardew Valley and Dreamlight Valley, creating natural stopping points and encouraging daily rather than marathon play sessions. For players worried about burnout, the stamina system provides built-in protection against unhealthy gaming patterns.
The system also creates strategic decision-making – do you use limited daily stamina to farm, cook, decorate, or explore? These meaningful choices encourage variety rather than players falling into repetitive loops.
Social Features and the Galactic Bazaar
Beyond personal planet management, Petit Planet introduces multiplayer through the Galactic Bazaar – an interstellar hub where players can chat, dance, and enjoy cooperative mini-games together. This social layer transforms what could be a solitary experience into a shared adventure where friendships deepen through interaction. The emphasis on connection over competition differentiates Petit Planet from many multiplayer games focused on PvP or competitive ranking.
Co-op rhythm mini-games suggest playful interactions rather than skill-based challenges. These aren’t battles to win – they’re moments to share joy and synchronize movement to cheerful melodies. This philosophy aligns perfectly with the cozy aesthetic and the game’s overall tone.
No Gatcha, No Microtransactions (Yet)
Remarkably for a HoYoverse game, Petit Planet currently features zero gacha mechanics and no microtransactions during the Closed Beta. Everything encountered during the Coziness Test can be obtained through in-game currency earned through activities. This is genuinely refreshing, especially for a company known for monetization sophistication. Whether this remains true at full launch remains to be seen, but the beta’s consumer-friendly approach signals confidence in the game’s core appeal.
This approach also respects the life sim genre’s core philosophy – cozy games should encourage relaxation and creative expression, not wallet-draining progression systems designed to manipulate spending.
Environmental Themes With Subtle Impact
An ecological theme subtly permeates Petit Planet’s design. Caring for your planet and its inhabitants generates Luca, the life force, which mirrors real-world stewardship concepts. Though the environmental messaging currently lacks mechanical teeth – you’re not punished for neglecting your planet, and the concept remains contextual – the thematic foundation could deepen in future development. The spiritual connection between planetary care and game progression creates natural alignment between player goals and environmental harmony.
This gentle approach to environmental messaging avoids preaching while establishing values that resonate with players interested in cozy, contemplative gaming.
The Technical Side
The Coziness Test is available on PC and iOS with sign-ups open on the official Petit Planet website. A limited number of players will be selected based on survey completion, suggesting HoYoverse is carefully managing beta scale to gather targeted feedback. This controlled rollout suggests serious commitment to polish before broader release. The fact that HoYoverse is actively expanding multi-platform development post-beta hints that Android and potentially console versions could arrive later.
FAQs
When does Petit Planet Closed Beta start?
The Coziness Test Closed Beta begins November 7, 2025 on PC and iOS.
How do I sign up for the beta?
Visit the official Petit Planet website (planet.hoyoverse.com) and complete the survey. A limited number of selected players will receive beta access.
Is Petit Planet free to play?
During the Closed Beta, Petit Planet is free with no gacha or microtransactions. Whether this remains true at full launch hasn’t been confirmed.
What platforms is Petit Planet on?
Currently available on PC and iOS during Closed Beta, with expanded multi-platform development planned post-beta.
What activities can I do in Petit Planet?
Farming, fishing, beachcombing, mining, cooking, crafting, decorating, collecting critters, exploring, and socializing with neighbors.
How is Petit Planet different from Animal Crossing?
Petit Planet combines Animal Crossing, Stardew Valley, and Dreamlight Valley elements, adding cosmic theming, stamina systems, co-op mini-games, and a focus on relationship-building and environmental stewardship.
Is Petit Planet a multiplayer game?
It features optional multiplayer through the Galactic Bazaar social hub where players can chat, dance, and enjoy co-op mini-games, but core gameplay is single-player.
What is Luca in Petit Planet?
Luca is the life force generated through caring for your planet and neighbors. It fuels the cosmic tree symbolizing your planet’s vitality and unlocks new features as it grows.
Does the game have a stamina system?
Yes, activities consume stamina. Once depleted, you must rest or consume food to recover, encouraging deliberate pacing and daily play over marathon sessions.
Is this HoYoverse’s first life simulation game?
Yes, Petit Planet marks HoYoverse’s debut into the life sim genre after multiple successes with action and strategy titles.
Conclusion
Petit Planet represents HoYoverse’s thoughtful entry into the life simulation genre, respecting cozy gaming conventions while adding its own cosmic flair and production polish. The closed beta beginning November 7 offers a genuine opportunity to experience a fresh take on familiar mechanics, all without the monetization concerns that plague many live-service games. Whether you’re a seasoned Animal Crossing veteran, Stardew Valley enthusiast, or someone curious about cozy games in general, Petit Planet’s Coziness Test deserves investigation. The game’s emphasis on relaxation, creativity, and connection – combined with HoYoverse’s development resources – positions it as a potentially significant entry in a genre often overlooked by major publishers. Sign up for the beta, nurture your planet, build relationships with your fuzzy neighbors, and discover what awaits beneath the stars.