Captain of Industry
- May 31, 2022
- MaFi Games
- 130h median play time
Get on Steam"Captain of Industry" is a factory building simulation game where you manage and optimize production chains to build a industrial empire. You will extract resources, process them into goods, and sell them for profit, while also dealing with market demands and competition. The game features a sandbox mode with procedurally generated maps, allowing for endless replayability.
PC
Windows
Cloud
NVIDIA GeForce NOW
Reviews
- Engaging gameplay with a complex tech tree that encourages strategic planning and resource management.
- Unique terrain manipulation mechanics that allow players to reshape the landscape through mining and dumping.
- Active developer support with frequent updates and community engagement, enhancing the overall experience.
- Steep learning curve that may overwhelm new players, requiring external resources or tutorials to fully grasp mechanics.
- Potential for frustrating 'death spirals' where mismanagement can lead to irreversible setbacks.
- UI and some mechanics can feel clunky or unintuitive, detracting from the overall experience.
- gameplay342 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Captain of Industry" is characterized by its intricate mechanics that blend resource management, factory building, and logistics planning, offering a rewarding experience for players who enjoy strategic depth. While the game features unique elements like terrain deformation and complex production chains, it also presents a steep learning curve and can become tedious over time, particularly for newcomers. Overall, the game is praised for its engaging mechanics and potential for depth, though some players note that the user interface and certain mechanics could benefit from refinement.
“It masterfully combines elements of resource management, factory building, and logistics planning into a deeply rewarding gameplay experience.”
“The unique feature of Captain of Industry compared to other factory games is the detailed terrain deformation and piling mechanics, which affects mining, waste disposal, and area available for building.”
“The gameplay is engaging and challenging, and the graphics are stunning.”
“Automating things in this game feels like an abysmal nightmare compared to factory sims, so just be prepared for the jumbled spaghetti mess blanketing your island that you can't avoid due to building/pathing mechanics.”
“The tutorial doesn't need to hold your hand, but there's very little that's told to the player about the game's basic mechanics.”
“The gameplay loop is really well done, and terraforming in this game feels so good to just watch.”
- graphics164 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players praising the detailed animations and industrial aesthetic, while others criticize the overall visual quality as outdated or simplistic. Some users highlight improvements in graphical fidelity with recent updates, yet many feel that the visuals still lack the polish expected from a modern title. Overall, while the graphics contribute positively to the immersive experience, they are often seen as a secondary concern compared to gameplay mechanics.
“The graphics are polished, with a meticulous attention to detail that brings the bustling cities and industrial landscapes to life.”
“With its impressive graphics and intricate systems, the game provides a rich and immersive experience for players eager to dive into the complexities of running an industrial empire.”
“The graphics are crisp and detailed, all of the industry machinery is neatly animated.”
“The graphics are still ugly and furiously outdated.”
“The graphics are flat and uninspired.”
“The graphics are an absolute eyesore as well as the UI.”
- optimization62 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while many players report smooth performance even on lower-end systems and appreciate the frequent updates that enhance usability and performance, some still experience frame rate drops and sluggishness in late-game scenarios. The developers are actively working on improvements, and the game's detailed graphics and complex systems offer a rewarding experience for those who enjoy factory building and resource management. However, further optimization is still needed, particularly for larger factories and more demanding setups.
“Even on my subpar laptop, it runs smoothly with a minimum of stutter.”
“I personally have noticed how much the performance has improved and how every update improves the usability of every feature.”
“The developers made significant performance updates, so people with less powerful specs are seeing better load times, overall performance, and smaller save files - this is the sort of optimization desperately needed in most games, and this developer has delivered it.”
“Although it is still in early access development, I think it could still use some improvements in performance.”
“Good game but frame rates drop to the 50s and 60s; needs a bit more optimization.”
“The early access build still needs some polishing and performance tuning, but it can easily provide you with over 100 hours of addictive factory building.”
- grinding53 mentions
- 2 % positive mentions
- 6 % neutral mentions
- 92 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the depth and complexity it offers, many find it tedious and repetitive, particularly in tasks like mining and farming. The early game is often seen as less tedious, but as players progress, the need for meticulous planning and micromanagement can lead to frustration. Overall, the game appeals to those who enjoy slow, methodical gameplay, but it may deter players looking for a more streamlined experience.
“The UI is reasonable, there's no tedious inventory management, and the game isn't about fighting the UI to meticulously place blueprints.”
“I can only recommend this game to players who like the slow, tedious grind of survival-type builders.”
“Although fun at first, it gets way too tedious and unrelaxing, especially if you didn't focus on everything within the first 15 minutes of gameplay.”
“The most important part - mining/dumping, is very tedious and difficult to manage.”
- story41 mentions
- 12 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The game's story is largely criticized for its minimal presence, with many players noting that it lacks a compelling narrative or depth, often comparing it unfavorably to other titles in the genre that offer richer storytelling and exploration. While some players find enjoyment in the gameplay mechanics and the organic progression of their own production chains, the absence of a structured campaign or engaging missions leaves many feeling that the experience is ultimately lacking. Overall, the consensus is that the game is more focused on mechanics than on delivering a meaningful story.
“The story, as simple as it is, has been very exciting to tell others as my little island evolved.”
“It really created an organic story arc.”
“Every story has a humble beginning with good intentions.”
“But the lack of campaign or story or missions makes it really boring.”
“In games like Dyson Sphere, Factorio, or Satisfactory, there's a creative element, a story narrative or exploration, that's what's lacking from this title; sending your boat to markers on a map just isn't enough, there's no room for real creativity, not in the automation design either and there's no story.”
“The game has some potential, but its story is weird; something does not feel natural about this game.”
- replayability36 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game boasts high replayability due to its complex mechanics, diverse strategies, and the ability to approach factory building in various ways. Players appreciate the community-generated blueprints and the potential for different maps and difficulties, which enhance the experience. However, some users note that the lack of procedural generation and achievements may limit replay value for certain players, though many still find the game engaging and worth revisiting.
“There's a lot of replayability with new maps, and realizing new ways of doing things.”
“High replayability: the game’s complexity and variety ensure that each playthrough can offer a different experience.”
“The numerous strategies and approaches to managing your industry provide ample replay value, keeping the game fresh and engaging.”
“The islands are pre-made and this is very bad for replayability.”
“Now... as with all manufacturing automation games, it is a little weak on replayability... the recipes don't change, so the solutions to manufacturing challenges don't change.”
“I hope they come up with a better implementation of those things, which is not impossible considering it's in early access, even though it has more content and is more playable than many hyped games which were presumably full releases.”
- music36 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the relaxing and atmospheric soundtrack that complements the gameplay, while others find it bland or even unpleasant. Many users express a desire for a more diverse or engaging music library, indicating that while the soundtrack has its moments, it often fails to meet expectations. Overall, the music is described as fitting the game well, but opinions vary widely on its quality and appeal.
“The auditory experience is equally commendable, with well-placed sounds and an outstanding original soundtrack by the renowned artist Ondřej.”
“An absolutely amazing game about building a growing logistics chain of factories, foundries, and mines in order to keep up with what the workers require and demand. The game comes with an awesome soundtrack that also just clicks so pleasingly with the gameplay itself.”
“The soundtrack is super chill, and suits the game perfectly.”
“Not a big fan of the music though, I would have liked more relaxing music for a game like this.”
“The game music put me to sleep; the lack of any roads and just the overall aesthetic of the game made it feel very unorganized. Overall, the game felt very bland.”
“Music is garbage; had to put it to 0% right away.”
- stability26 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 4 % neutral mentions
- 54 % negative mentions
Overall, players report that the game is largely stable and nearly bug-free, with many praising the developers for their ongoing efforts to improve performance and address issues. While some users have encountered minor glitches or specific bugs, the majority find the gameplay polished and enjoyable, with a strong emphasis on quality-of-life improvements. The game is considered to be in a solid state for early access, with continuous updates enhancing its stability.
“The dev team is actively working on the game, and they've done a really good job making it bug free.”
“The gameplay is close to being completely bug free, and the devs consistently listen to feedback and add new features that improve the feel and make life a little easier for the player.”
“Game is already very polished and bug free; updates are still coming out.”
“I can't even recognize the game anymore; it used to be a buggy little weird game that I thought looked neat.”
“Buggy game, storage full of food and starving, because trucks are standing at the farm 'not finding the way to food store...'”
“Too many glitches and bugs, needs to be addressed early.”
- atmosphere8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its stunning realism and immersive industrial aesthetic, enhanced by polished graphics and atmospheric music. Players appreciate the captivating environment created by detailed renderings of factories and offices, alongside engaging animations and micro-management elements. Despite initial reservations about the graphic style, many find it contributes positively to the overall experience.
“It is polished, it is progressing well in development, it has a great Discord community, good wiki coverage, and really nice atmospheric music.”
“Each factory, office, and retail outlet is rendered with stunning realism, capturing the essence of the business world and immersing players in its captivating atmosphere.”
“I was initially put off by the graphic style, but the art style quickly grew on me and really sets the game up with a good industrial atmosphere.”
“Our atmospheres are now 0.1% oxygen, 0.2% nitrogen, and 99.7% pollution.”
“If they improve the looks and visual atmosphere, it would enhance my experience.”
“I love the industry aesthetic, but I ruin the atmosphere by using enough coal power to make Captain Planet have a coronary.”
- humor7 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is largely derived from its relatable challenges and the chaotic situations players find themselves in, often leading to laughter among friends as they navigate resource management and automation mishaps. Players appreciate the game's potential for comedic moments, especially when things go wrong, and find the lack of a tutorial amusing, viewing it as a challenge for those accustomed to more straightforward gameplay. Overall, the humor enhances the experience, making the game engaging and entertaining despite its slow start.
“Ok, I know this review was somewhat formatted on the 'because of jail' meme, but... it's funny because it's very true in this game.”
“It's slow to start, but that's pretty true with most factory/automation games; though once you get into it, there is always something that needs your attention - be it a fix (because you are hilarious and did something oh-so-wrong), be it a rebuild (because you received new technology and can make that thing better) or be it an issue (because you've run out of a resource, or you're consuming too much of a resource) - your attention is always somewhere, working on something, and you get to that stage where you're never bored.”
“The bad reviews about the game not having a tutorial are very funny; I guess those are people that only play games that say 'press A to win.'”
- monetization3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising the developers for their commitment to improvements and visuals, while others criticize the prevalence of microtransactions in the industry, suggesting that it often leads to a cash grab mentality rather than genuine development.
“There's a lot of EA titles that just dangle around and then there's an occasional 'update' with a few bug fixes so that the dev team can claim the game is still being developed and not just a resting cash grab.”
“There is one thing they have in common though: John Riccitiello thinks the developers of these games are idiots for not putting microtransactions on everything, perhaps charging $2 to place an item on a belt.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game emotionally engaging, as it fosters a deep sense of investment in system-building and future planning, leading to an immersive experience that can overshadow real-life activities. The emotional connection is heightened by the satisfaction derived from strategic advancements and the anticipation of future developments.
“This game got me addicted immediately and prevented all grass touching for an entire 4-day weekend.”
“I haven't played an automation game that made me feel like setting up systems was beneficial to advancing, but also how I can plan my future building around my future dumping.”
