Autonauts

91%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,916 reviews
  • grinding
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Autonauts Game Cover
I found Autonauts to be tedious at first, then really fun, then exhausting. It’s a fun challenge, but in the end, I just wanted to build a robot to tell all the others what to do so I could sit down and read a book.
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Autonauts is a single-player strategy game with stunning mechanics, graphics, and humor, but can be quite grinding and buggy. As "Automationauts," your goal is to colonize planets by building automated factories that utilize local resources. The game offers a good soundtrack and continues to be updated, with the latest prototype version being 21.2 .

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Linux
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

91%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,916 reviews
gameplay47 positive mentions
grinding163 negative mentions
  • Engaging and addictive gameplay that encourages automation and problem-solving.
  • Charming graphics and a relaxing atmosphere make it enjoyable to play for long periods.
  • The programming aspect is intuitive and serves as a fun introduction to basic coding concepts.
  • The game can become tedious and repetitive, especially when programming multiple bots for similar tasks.
  • Limited UI and control options can make managing a large number of bots cumbersome.
  • Some features and mechanics feel underdeveloped or incomplete, leading to frustration during gameplay.
  • grinding165 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being excessively tedious, particularly in the later stages where players must manage numerous robots and complex automation tasks. Many reviewers note that while the initial gameplay can be enjoyable, it quickly devolves into repetitive and monotonous tasks that feel more like a chore than fun. Despite some players finding satisfaction in optimizing their automation systems, the overall sentiment leans towards the grinding experience being a significant drawback that detracts from the game's potential enjoyment.

    • “The game also has a lot of programming assistance; for example, if you select a 'pick up x' instruction to repeat, it defaults to 'repeat until hands full.' This makes the grinding process much less tedious.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The game heavily focuses on mechanics like robots, 'programming' (you don't need to be a programmer or anything like that) and the general gameplay loop is to make bots, set them up to do the tedious/time-consuming tasks and then making progress to unlock better bots, upgrades, etc. before repeating!”
    • “I was excited about this game, but it gets tedious so fast.”
    • “The game has an interesting idea and is fun and casual, but does start to feel a bit tedious or boring after a while, especially when trying to complete everything.”
  • gameplay157 mentions

    The gameplay of the game is centered around programming robots to automate tasks, creating a satisfying loop of resource management and progression. While the mechanics are easy to learn and offer depth, some players find the gameplay can become tedious over time, particularly due to repetitive tasks and a lack of variety in mechanics. Overall, it appeals to fans of automation and puzzle games, but may not meet the expectations of those seeking a more dynamic experience.

    • “The gameplay itself is really fun, if you also like logic-based automation-chain puzzles, like you'd see in Satisfactory or RimWorld.”
    • “The core gameplay loop of 'showing' a robot what to do is quite good, and really scratched the itch from Human Resource Machine and most Zachtronics games with the visual programming being really easy to understand.”
    • “The ability to program the 'bots that do all the hard work for you provides the game with deceptive depth: it's easy to get things working at a basic level, but it's fun and challenging to find ever more clever and creative ways to improve the efficiency of your mechanical helpers.”
    • “I was still in the beginning of the game, but I got the feeling that no matter how far you work in your automation, the gameplay still tends to be quite tedious and got only worse.”
    • “Many quality of life features are locked behind the tech tree, which just makes gameplay tedious and makes it feel like a chore.”
    • “The core gameplay loop - building and automating robots - is hindered by the poorly implemented UI and feature controls.”
  • graphics149 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely described as cute, charming, and simplistic, featuring a vibrant, low-poly aesthetic that appeals to both younger audiences and adults. While some players initially found the art style overly childish, many grew to appreciate its charm and how it complements the game's engaging mechanics. Overall, the visuals are considered functional and enjoyable, enhancing the relaxing and addictive gameplay experience.

    • “The graphics are beautifully done, the sounds are funny but mind-numbing, but mods can take care of that.”
    • “The early grind can get a bit mind-numbing, but not enough to ruin the game, the graphics are high quality and adorable, the sound design is lovely, and the mechanics are so unique!”
    • “The graphics are charming and functional.”
    • “I almost refunded because I really don't care at all for the childish graphical style, and as a software engineer, the programming is extremely simple.”
    • “I have to make a comment on the chosen art style... it kind of looks like something made for preschoolers.”
    • “The art style is cutesy, but it is overly cutesy to the point where you might start puking rainbows.”
  • music42 mentions

    The music in the game is generally described as relaxing and enjoyable, complementing its cute graphics and atmosphere. However, many players find the soundtrack repetitive, with a desire for more variety to sustain long play sessions. While some appreciate the chill vibe it creates, others have opted to mute it due to its lack of diversity and the overwhelming sound effects from in-game actions.

    • “The game loop is satisfying, graphics are fun and cute, and the soundtrack is chill and enjoyable.”
    • “The bright colors, the relaxing music, I think it's fab.”
    • “Amazing art style coupled with nice music makes a relaxing scene.”
    • “I find the music to be repetitive, and I usually turn it off, so I can't really comment on that part.”
    • “The background music doesn't have enough variation for over 100 hours of gameplay, as you pretty much stay in the same map forever.”
    • “One con I have is the music; it's the same track on loop and can get grating at times. If it had more variations, it would improve the experience significantly.”
  • optimization33 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is praised for its ability to handle hundreds of bots simultaneously with minimal performance impact, making it a standout in the genre. While many players report smooth performance and enjoyable automation mechanics, some have noted occasional stuttering and optimization issues when scaling up significantly. Improvements in exponential growth methods and quality of life features could enhance the experience further.

    • “Performance is surprisingly good even as you get hundreds of bots doing their own thing, and the recent quality of life patches were a godsend.”
    • “On a side note, the optimization of this game is shocking to me; I'm able to have almost 100 bots running simultaneously with little to no performance impact. It's an impressive feat.”
    • “The optimization is certainly excellent, considering you can have thousands of bots running around with no slowdown.”
    • “There is very little optimization; it's easier to just throw more bots at your problems than it is to make things work more effectively by tweaking the process to make it less labor-intensive.”
    • “The main negative is just some optimization issues that I didn't really encounter until I started a new game with the intent of scaling way up from the get-go.”
    • “There are some interesting ideas here, but this game could use some quality of life improvements, better supply chain optimization, and so on.”
  • stability26 mentions

    The game's stability is a mixed bag, with users reporting a range of minor glitches and bugs, particularly related to bot programming and interface issues. While some players experience frequent freezing and require restarts to resolve problems, others find the game largely bug-free and stable, especially considering its content. Overall, it appears that while the game has some stability issues, regular patches are addressing many of the concerns, making it playable but not without its frustrations.

    • “It's polished and bug-free, and there's a lot to do and unlock.”
    • “I'm honestly impressed that the game is as bug-free and runs as well as it does with all the stuff going on.”
    • “Otherwise, it is fun, bug-free, and seems to have a ton of content to explore.”
    • “The game suffers several minor glitches such as items becoming invisible or fences becoming transparent like a blueprint.”
    • “But right now basically early access at best: it's buggy, has a clunky UI that hinders more than it helps sometimes, lacks instruction and tooltips for many things, and is not feature complete - you will get stopped at level 4 and be unable to continue.”
    • “The game is fun at first but the lag is awful and the 'programming' is buggy and eventually becomes frustrating.”
  • replayability13 mentions

    Overall, the game offers a solid level of replayability, particularly for fans of automation and efficiency optimization, with many players enjoying multiple playthroughs and the potential for mods to enhance the experience. However, some users note that the game's slow pace and certain design issues may limit its replay value for others. Continuous updates from the developers are expected to improve gameplay and further increase replayability in the future.

    • “And the mods in the workshop that have been built just add to the fun; this is a game with a lot of replayability and automation fun.”
    • “The game is an automation-based style, and progression-based; there is a lot of replayability and a lot of content.”
    • “Additionally, it seems the devs are actively working on adding and refining gameplay, giving this a huge replayability factor.”
    • “The replayability in this game isn't incredibly high (unless you're like me and want to make your efficiency better and better), but the devs are working on a combat expansion which will just make an already perfect game even better!”
    • “Still, as I said, I really recommend it and I did love it, but be prepared to be extremely patient and organized. I don't think that this game is made to be replayable as the pace of it all is so slow.”
    • “But it does still have issues with clunky control, plenty of bugs, abandoned story/tech tree, unbalanced resource chains, and little replayability.”
  • story12 mentions

    The game's story is minimal and often feels secondary to gameplay, with players noting a lack of an overarching narrative and a reliance on sandbox elements reminiscent of Minecraft. While there are light story elements tied to resource progression, many reviewers found the experience ultimately lacking in depth and coherence, leading to a sense of aimlessness over time. Overall, the narrative aspect is seen as underdeveloped, with players primarily crafting their own experiences rather than engaging with a structured storyline.

    • “Alas, your interstellar mission unfortunately failed to pack anything except you, the purple-haired autonaut, and a few creepy colonist 'eggs.' Silly interstellar colonization mission planners!”
    • “The progression and unlocking of resources and their various tiers is also accompanied by a (very light) story, so it's not entirely sandbox.”
    • “But it does still have issues with clunky control, plenty of bugs, abandoned story/tech tree, unbalanced resource chains, and little replayability.”
    • “Well, there may not be an overarching story like there is in most modern games, but it is a lot like Minecraft, in the sense that you really write the story, and that is what I mean by heavy in terms of content.”
    • “Story: nothing.”
  • humor11 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by its charming animations and cute, cartoonish graphics, which evoke laughter through the antics of quirky robot minions as they build and interact in whimsical ways. Players appreciate the blend of fun and educational elements, noting that the game's lighthearted approach to mechanics like thermodynamics adds to its overall enjoyment. Overall, the humor is described as a key aspect that enhances the gameplay experience.

    • “The animations are hilarious when you or your little robot minions are building stuff.”
    • “Laughing in the face of thermodynamics, your negative-entropy clockwork robots will soon be toddling about the map, chopping trees, cutting planks, digging holes and occasionally powering one another up, all in the name of producing increasingly elaborate food, shelter, toys, and more for your insatiable settlers.”
    • “Seriously fun game with loads of good humor baked in.”
  • emotional6 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by its wholesome and uplifting nature, with players expressing surprise at how much joy and comfort it brings. Many describe it as a cure for depression, highlighting its cute and forgiving qualities that foster a sense of curiosity and addiction similar to that of Factorio.

    • “I didn't expect to like this game so much, but it's so wholesome, forgiving, and curious.”
    • “This game can cure depression with its wholesomeness.”
    • “It's a good and wholesome time either way.”
  • atmosphere4 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is characterized by a peaceful and cutesy vibe, enhanced by its engaging music, which contributes to an enjoyable experience. Players appreciate the tranquil setting, though some note that the challenge lies in personal planning rather than external threats. Overall, the atmosphere is subjective, with some finding it delightful and inviting for future play.

    • “The atmosphere created by the music enhances the overall enjoyment of the game and makes me want to return to it in the future.”
    • “The game features a nice, peaceful atmosphere where your only enemy is your own inability to plan properly and rely on temporary solutions.”
    • “The elements of the game perfectly fit the cutesy atmosphere.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization strategy is considered effective, with users noting that the game features well-implemented advertisements.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

74% average critic score

Buy Autonauts

Play time

20hMedian play time
72hAverage play time
106hMain story
168hCompletionist
8-80hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 25 analyzed playthroughs

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