Flowrate’s planets were never meant to look realistic. They’re meant to feel alive.

This month, we’ve done a visual pass across nearly every aspect of the galaxy—from atmosphere gradients to landing site markers—to make everything more readable, colorful, and reactive without breaking the minimalist style.

Before and after: less noise, more depth

Previously, some planets had muddy shading or unclear fuel markers. Now, we’ve updated:

• Cloud layering for more dynamic atmospheres

• Landing site highlights that pop better against the terrain

• Atmosphere tinting that reflects each planet’s oxygen and pressure stats

• Starscapes that are easier to differentiate when traveling

It’s still procedural. It’s still lightweight. But now it looks intentionally beautiful.

What we’re testing next

Some experimental features are in the works:

• Aurora effects on high-atmosphere planets

• Surface shimmer based on temperature

• Burn marks at frequent landing spots

None of these are final, but they’re part of a bigger goal: make each planet more distinct, even if the mechanics stay clean.

Flowrate won’t ever be a high-fidelity game. That’s not the point.

But a stark, vibrant galaxy with tiny flickers of detail? That’s the aesthetic we’re aiming for.