Engadget, "The best Playdate games" (updated 12 May 2025). "a well-crafted story with some really gorgeous art that I think even people who aren't into visual novel-type experiences can appreciate."
https://www.engadget.com/gaming/best-playdate-games-190049201.htmlGames / Catalog / The Botanist
OverviewCatalog
The Botanist
AdventureCrank: yes (precision)$9
1 · official Catalog screenshot
2 · official Catalog screenshot
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5 · official Catalog screenshot1 · official Catalog screenshot2 · official Catalog screenshot3 · official Catalog screenshot4 · official Catalog screenshot5 · official Catalog screenshotOverview. Not yet reviewed. No score. Checked 12 Oct 2026. Built from official and press sources.
What it is
"Follow the Botanist as they travel through space, searching planets for the rare plants needed to solve the food shortage back home." The Botanist is an "interactive sci-fi adventure comic", a linear story of about 15–20 minutes. Panels advance with the crank, D-pad and A button, parallax animation brings the art to life, and at moments you physically take part: Engadget describes tilting the console to guide the Botanist through a zero-gravity room. All controls are self-paced and low precision. The content note mentions "a brief scene of mild cartoon violence".
It's by Cadin Batrack, who wrote and drew it and built it with Panels, his own comic engine. Music is by YouthFaire. It costs $9 (also on itch.io, with a free demo) and is in Panic's "Great Stories" collection. Batrack followed it with To Dust and the branching comic Fauna. Panic's staff note: "Not a game, yet one of the best experiences on Playdate."
Who made it
What others are saying
Panic staff note (Catalog page). "as much surprise and delight as you'll find on the platform."
https://play.date/games/the-botanist/Callout (?): No review yet. We haven't reviewed The Botanist yet. This page is an overview built from official and press sources.
Sources
Checked 12 Oct 2026.
- Official Catalog page (description, credits, size, dates, content/AI/accessibility notes). https://play.date/games/the-botanist/
- Engadget, "The best Playdate games" (updated 12 May 2025). https://www.engadget.com/gaming/best-playdate-games-190049201.html
OverviewNo score
Overview
Not yet reviewed.
No score. This page is built from official and press sources.
On the card
Follow the Botanist across planets in search of the rare plants needed to end a food shortage back home. An interactive comic with crank, tilt and parallax.
From the sources
