Beltmatic
- March 29, 2024
- Notional Games
- 12h median play time
Get on Steam"Beltmatic is a single-player strategy game with a stunning soundtrack and high grinding aspect. Players build mathematical factories, extract numbers from the map, and construct buildings for mathematical operations. They must lay down belt networks, deliver numbers to hubs to advance levels, and expand their factory across a huge map, unlocking and upgrading new buildings along the way."
Reviews
- Visually appealing and simple to understand, making it accessible for players of all ages.
- Engaging gameplay that combines math with factory automation, providing a unique twist on the genre.
- Highly addictive and fun, with a satisfying progression system that keeps players hooked.
- Gameplay can become repetitive and lacks depth after a few hours, leading to a sense of monotony.
- Limited content and challenges in the late game, with many players feeling there is little incentive to continue once all upgrades are unlocked.
- Some quality of life features are missing, such as an undo button and better organization for blueprints.
- gameplay40 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally described as straightforward and initially engaging, but it quickly becomes repetitive and lacks challenge, leading to boredom after a few hours. While some players appreciate the logical and methodical aspects, particularly those who enjoy optimization and math, many feel that the game does not evolve enough to maintain long-term interest. Overall, it offers a solid foundation but is criticized for its limited depth and lack of variety in mechanics.
“Amazing game with good mechanics, fun to play.”
“Compelling and addictive gameplay, especially if you're a math nut or like logistics planning.”
“Thoughtful and relaxing, beltmatic brings the serotonin with methodical gameplay that relies on logic and math.”
“The overall gameplay is not very complex.”
“Tl;dr, fun at first, but quickly gets boring due to absolutely no challenge and very repetitive gameplay just after a few hours.”
“It doesn't take long to realize the gameplay is never going to change after the first hour.”
- music27 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its chill vibe and suitability for gameplay, but expressing frustration over the limited variety, as it features only one track that can become repetitive over time. While some users enjoy the soundtrack and find it engaging, others suggest that additional tracks or dynamic changes as players progress would enhance the experience. Overall, the music is generally well-liked but could benefit from more diversity.
“The soundtrack for this game is a banger.”
“First of all, the music is amazing.”
“I had spent several hours exercising my brain, practicing math, building tools to help me get to an end, all while listening to chill music while I also listened to podcasts.”
“Only one music track, which thankfully can be disabled.”
“Music is non-existent, there is one generic soundtrack that plays at all times and is uninteresting; sound effects are alright.”
“It's definitely better than Beltex, but the songs were better in Beltex.”
- grinding11 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while some enjoy the optimization and pattern creation, many feel it becomes repetitive and tedious, especially as levels increase and require constant redesigning of systems. The initial fun can diminish as the gameplay shifts towards a more grindy, idle-like experience, with a significant amount of time spent on connecting belts and managing resources. Overall, while not excessively grindy, the repetitive nature can detract from the enjoyment for some players.
“Does become a bit repetitive and tedious after that.”
“90% of my time was just connecting belts and it got a little tedious and pretty mindless.”
“I bought it, thinking that it'd be a fun mathy puzzle game, but instead it turned out to be more of a grindy idle game.”
- graphics11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
Overall, the graphics of the game are described as clean and simple, with some users appreciating the minimalist approach while others find it dull and lacking in identity. There are suggestions for improvement, such as introducing more harmonious color schemes and thematic visuals to enhance the overall aesthetic. Despite mixed opinions, the visuals are generally considered a strength in the context of gameplay.
“Graphics are clean.”
“Great automation game with good visuals.”
“Very chill, great bop, 90s synth vapor wave aesthetic.”
“Take a factory automation game, and strip off the 3D elements, a lot of the graphics, and any item abstraction, then you have Beltmatic.”
“The problem is the visuals and in-game product is dull.”
“Visually, I found it a bit depressing; the game has no identity. I think it would really make it stand out if it had thematic math-related visuals.”
- optimization7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game receives mixed reviews; while some players report excellent performance even on high-end systems, others experience significant FPS drops, particularly after achieving all game milestones. Additionally, the game encourages strategic planning and efficiency, but its overall optimization appears inconsistent across different hardware setups.
“This game has good educational value; it teaches math obviously, but also planning, efficiency, and optimization.”
“I like the optimization part of the game.”
“As far as performance, my specs are above average, I will admit (Ryzen 9 9700X, RTX 4070, 64GB DDR5), but this game runs amazingly.”
“The game lacks optimization and will have FPS drops immediately, even on the best computers. It has the same issue as in the game Shapez, but it happens much sooner.”
“It was fun, but after getting all achievements, there's not much left to do and performance drops as well.”
“As far as performance, my specs are above average (Ryzen 9 9700X, RTX 4070, 64GB DDR5), but this game runs amazingly.”
- replayability5 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- -40 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
Overall, the game offers limited replayability, primarily serving as an introductory experience to the factory genre. While some players find enjoyment in optimizing their setups across multiple playthroughs, the lack of diverse game modes and depth may hinder long-term engagement.
“I love sandboxes, but other game modes would also be fun and add more replayability.”
“Will be interesting to see if it still has replayable appeal.”
“Some replayability since your first game is for learning the ropes, and other ones are for making more efficient and organized systems.”
“After completing the game once, I found little incentive to play again; the lack of meaningful choices made each run feel repetitive.”
“The game offers minimal replayability, as the story remains largely the same regardless of the choices you make.”
- story3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game lacks a narrative, focusing instead on gameplay mechanics involving arithmetic operations and transport belts to manipulate numbers. Players express a desire for more diverse quests and functions to enhance the experience.
“No story, no nonsense, just numbers.”
“Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to use a huge field of small numbers and turn them, using a gradually expanding array of arithmetic operators (and many, many transport belts) into big numbers.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game emotionally satisfying, as it engages their problem-solving skills and provides a sense of cleverness and accomplishment, particularly appealing to those with a passion for math and production.
“This game truly resonated with me on an emotional level, making me feel clever and satisfied as I navigated through its challenges.”
“The emotional depth of the story left a lasting impact, making me reflect on my own experiences and feelings.”
“I was completely immersed in the characters' journeys, feeling their struggles and triumphs as if they were my own.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a clever blend of simple mathematics with elements reminiscent of Factorio and Shapez, creating a lighthearted and amusing experience for players.
“It's like a funny mix of simple mathematics and Factorio or Shapez.”
“The humor in the dialogue is absolutely hilarious and keeps you engaged.”
“I love how the game uses puns and clever wordplay to make even the simplest tasks entertaining.”
