AutoForge
- March 27, 2024
- Siege Games
- 15h median play time
Get on Steam"AutoForge is a single-player simulation game where you play as Otto, a magical golem, and build an automated factory using Mana-powered machines and farming to progress through a vast tech tree. Expand your world region by region, explore dangerous lands to find new resources, and defend your factory from enemy invasions in this grind-heavy 2D automation sandbox adventure."
Reviews
- The game combines elements of Factorio and Terraria, offering a unique blend of automation and exploration.
- The developer is very active and responsive to community feedback, regularly fixing bugs and implementing new features.
- The core gameplay loop is satisfying, with a strong focus on base building and resource management that keeps players engaged.
- The game suffers from a lack of content and polish, with many mechanics feeling incomplete or underdeveloped.
- There are significant quality of life issues, such as a clunky UI, limited inventory space, and frustrating controls that hinder the gameplay experience.
- The combat system is underwhelming and lacks variety, making it feel like an afterthought rather than a core component of the game.
- gameplay26 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally praised for its satisfying loop and enjoyable blend of mechanics reminiscent of Factorio and Terraria, offering a unique experience with a focus on automation and resource management. However, some players note issues with the tutorial system, a steep learning curve for certain mechanics, and bugs that can disrupt the experience. Overall, while the game shows promise and provides hours of content, it may benefit from further polish and development.
“Very satisfying gameplay loop, looking forward to playing more.”
“A wonderful blend of Factorio and Terraria, with excellent art, pacing, and mechanics.”
“The main mechanics are great; a factory game in this 2D side-scroller style works really well and is really fun, it comes with new challenges when thinking out your build.”
“In its current state, it's good for a decent amount of time and is more grind than gameplay, but that is what I was looking for when I bought this.”
“Some mechanics around animal husbandry are a bit difficult to penetrate or just need development.”
“The tech tree is easily unlocked and the gameplay loop becomes extremely simple very quickly.”
- graphics14 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game feature a charming 8-bit aesthetic that appeals to fans of retro visuals, though opinions vary on its overall execution. While some players appreciate the modern pixel graphics and find the art style enjoyable, others criticize the lack of resolution and graphics options, deeming it unacceptable for a 2024 release. Overall, the visuals are generally well-received, particularly for those who enjoy similar aesthetics to games like Terraria and Starbound.
“Fun and addicting automation formula with very nice art style and modern pixel graphics.”
“This game is visually and mechanically very similar to Starbound, so if you liked that aesthetic you're gonna love this.”
“I absolutely love the art style, combined with factory building and exploring.”
“Game has no graphics or resolution settings.”
“It's unacceptable to release a PC game in 2024 with no graphics options.”
“The similarities to Terraria end at the 2D graphics and exploration, and I think that's a shame.”
- grinding9 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 89 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, often involving the same tasks like digging and fighting a limited range of enemies. While there are complex systems for production and farming, the lack of quality-of-life features such as efficient building tools and scaling improvements contributes to a frustrating experience. However, some users appreciate the depth of the gameplay, noting that it can be enjoyable without feeling overly grindy.
“So far it has been excellent, not too grindy.”
“Feels boring, you dig the same dirt and stone, fight the same couple of enemies, your automation is super tedious to build and still slow as hell.”
“But it's clearly still missing a lot of polish with a lot of UI weaknesses that often make building frustrating and with little in the way of scaling improvements like blueprinting, copy-paste, deconstruct/reconstruct, mass deconstruct, and the like that are essential to avoid these kinds of games becoming tedious.”
“Normally that would be fine - expand and become more efficient, but the problem is it's just so tedious.”
- story5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is described as somewhat clunky, with a guided narrative that encourages specific gameplay mechanics, but it lacks clear direction and updates in the quest log. Players have encountered mysterious NPCs hinting at future developments, leaving them eager to see how the story unfolds, despite not having reached the conclusion after extensive playtime.
“My current save is about 80 hours and I haven't reached the end yet, so I can't tell you if the story is finished. However, I did find a mysterious NPC who spoke of the future.”
“Can't wait to see how the story evolves!”
“I had several instances where the 'story progress' or 'quest log' or whatever you call this thing did not update.”
“No story to explain what you need to be doing.”
“My current save is about 80 hours and I haven't reached the end yet, so I can't tell you if the story is finished; however, I did find a mysterious NPC who spoke of the future.”
- optimization3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its strong optimization, with users reporting no crashes and smooth performance even in early access. Many have noted that it is well-polished and free of performance issues, enhancing the overall experience.
“No crashes, good performance.”
“Really well polished even in early access; I've run into no performance issues so far, and it scratches that itch I've been missing from Factorio.”
“So far it runs smoothly, and I haven't had any problems.”
- music3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with players praising its quality and sound design. Many find it enjoyable and a strong aspect of the overall experience, despite some criticisms of the gameplay.
“I do feel the sound design is great and I especially enjoy the music.”
“Very promising; love the music.”
“The idea of the game is good, the sprites are interesting and the music is good.”
- stability3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is generally solid, with many players reporting minimal bugs and crashes during extended play sessions. However, some users feel that it still requires additional polish to enhance the experience and reduce frustration.
“The game isn't buggy or crashing frequently, which makes for a smoother experience overall.”
“While the game runs relatively stable, a bit more polish would enhance the overall enjoyment.”
“I appreciate that the game maintains stability, but there are moments where it could use some refinement.”
“Too buggy for me unfortunately.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features a well-crafted atmosphere that enhances the overall experience, complemented by an informative and engaging tutorial.
“The game has a really nice atmosphere, and the tutorial is very well made and educational.”
