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Factorio

It’s not hard to lose hours to Factorio, and if you can forgiver the visuals, you’ll have a ball throwing yourself into your work.
Factorio Game Cover
91%Game Brain Score
gameplay, graphics
grinding, stability
98% User Score Based on 138,322 reviews
Critic Score 80%Based on 8 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchLinuxPCTabletCloudMac OSNVIDIA GeForce NOWSteam DeckWindows
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Factorio Game Cover

About

Factorio is a single player and multiplayer survival strategy game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Wube Software LTD. and was released on August 13, 2020. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Factorio is a game about automating and expanding factories in a procedurally generated world. You'll start by mining resources and crafting tools, but soon you'll be managing supply chains, researching new technologies, and defending your empire from alien creatures. The game features cooperative multiplayer and robust modding support, allowing for countless hours of gameplay customization. Be prepared to balance industrial growth with environmental impact, and defend your territory against hostile forces.

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Factorio screenshot
Factorio screenshot
Factorio screenshot
Factorio screenshot
Factorio screenshot
Factorio screenshot
Factorio screenshot
Factorio screenshot
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98%
Audience ScoreBased on 138,322 reviews
gameplay1.9k positive mentions
grinding761 negative mentions
  • Factorio offers exceptional replayability, with a deep gameplay loop that encourages players to optimize and build sprawling factories, enhanced by a vibrant modding community.
  • The game is praised for its smooth performance and stability, allowing players to build complex systems without significant performance issues, even on lower-end hardware.
  • The atmospheric soundtrack and immersive sound design effectively complement the industrial theme, creating an engaging environment that enhances the overall experience.
  • The story is criticized for its minimalism and lack of depth, with many players desiring more character development and a more engaging narrative.
  • Some players find the gameplay can become tedious, especially during early and mid-game stages where manual tasks dominate, leading to a sense of repetitiveness.
  • The graphics received mixed reviews, with some players feeling that the retro aesthetic is simplistic and detracts from the overall experience.
  • gameplay
    5,770 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Factorio's gameplay is widely praised for its deep, engaging mechanics that revolve around automation, resource management, and strategic planning, offering players a highly addictive experience. The game features a smooth progression system that gradually introduces complexity, allowing both new and experienced players to enjoy its intricate systems without feeling overwhelmed. With extensive mod support and a vibrant community, Factorio provides virtually limitless replayability, making it a standout title in the factory simulation genre.

    • “The gameplay is smooth, logical, and rewarding from start to finish.”
    • “Every interaction is so deeply thought out you can feel the effort and love gone into every aspect of the gameplay, which makes your time playing feel all the more like a rich experience.”
    • “Its core gameplay loop—starting with basic automation and rapidly escalating to a sprawling, interconnected megabase of belts, trains, and robots—is hypnotically addictive and provides virtually infinite replayability through procedurally generated worlds and an industry-leading modding scene.”
    • “A little advice for new players: maybe it's not a good idea to play Factorio as your first game; it adds a lot of new mechanics and complexity.”
    • “If you like an easy win, a quick gameplay that lets you steam off, maybe this game isn't for you.”
    • “The base game has you consistently running into annoying passive gameplay features involving bugs, pollution, and upcrafting, or just that you really need to look stuff up to learn how to play the game beyond the tutorial.”
  • graphics
    2,672 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of Factorio have received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the game's unique retro aesthetic and pixel art style, which evokes nostalgia for classic games. While some find the visuals simplistic and reminiscent of older titles, others argue that the graphics effectively support gameplay clarity and performance, allowing for complex factory designs without taxing system resources. Overall, the consensus is that while the graphics may not be cutting-edge, they serve the game's mechanics well and do not detract from the overall experience.

    • “Graphically, it is nothing groundbreaking, but the sprites and stylized art direction come together to create remarkably compelling visuals.”
    • “The graphics are charmingly retro, but don’t let that fool you – this game is a powerhouse of strategic gameplay.”
    • “The graphics are very well done; each machine has its own cool animation which really makes your factory come to life.”
    • “The graphics are obviously complete s***, and it's impossible to ignore this in the long run.”
    • “The graphics blend together, it feels cluttered, and you haven't even placed a machine down yet.”
    • “The graphics would have been better than average 20 years ago, but the rest of the game is as good as the graphics are bad.”
  • optimization
    2,106 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Factorio is widely praised for its exceptional optimization, allowing players to build massive factories without experiencing significant performance issues, even on lower-end hardware. The developers have demonstrated a strong commitment to continuous improvement, regularly releasing updates that enhance performance and fix bugs, resulting in a stable and polished gaming experience. Players appreciate the game's ability to handle complex systems and logistics, making it a favorite among those who enjoy problem-solving and optimization challenges.

    • “The performance is famously great, it feels super polished to play and it's just a seamless experience.”
    • “What I think is the most impressive is the amount of optimization the developers have gone through to make the gameplay as smooth as possible, even when you have several megabases on multiple different planets.”
    • “The developers’ commitment to optimization is legendary.”
    • “The game doesn’t care about you, it just keeps whispering that one more optimization will finally make things clean, and you believe it every time.”
    • “I know conveyor belts, circuit logic, and the haunting whisper of 'just one more optimization.' This all-consuming monstrosity of a game has claimed my free time, my sanity, and possibly my marriage.”
    • “The stress of figuring new things out led me to endless, meaningless optimizations on the stuff I already built, and when I couldn't do that anymore I'd give up and stop playing for several more months.”
  • replayability
    1,625 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Factorio is widely praised for its exceptional replayability, with many players highlighting the game's depth, procedural generation, and extensive modding community as key factors that contribute to its near-infinite replay value. Users report that each playthrough offers new challenges and opportunities for optimization, making it highly addictive and engaging. While some mention that the base game can feel repetitive after multiple completions, the vast array of mods available significantly enhances the experience, ensuring that players can continually find fresh ways to enjoy the game.

    • “Its core gameplay loop—starting with basic automation and rapidly escalating to a sprawling, interconnected megabase of belts, trains, and robots—is hypnotically addictive and provides virtually infinite replayability through procedurally generated worlds and an industry-leading modding scene.”
    • “The community-driven blueprint sharing feature transforms the game from a single-player experience into a collaborative engineering project, adding endless replayability.”
    • “The game’s replayability is infinite because the challenge never truly ends — there’s always another optimization waiting.”
    • “Replayability is really low - you have to perform the same steps every run, no need to think or adapt.”
    • “This game has absolutely zero replayability whatsoever.”
    • “The downside of this game is that once you have a perfect setup you can simply blueprint (or memorize) it and suddenly the replay value drops significantly.”
  • story
    1,285 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story aspect of Factorio is largely criticized for its minimalism, with many users noting that it lacks depth and complexity. The primary narrative revolves around the player crash-landing on an alien planet and the goal of building a rocket to escape, but this is often seen as a mere backdrop to the gameplay rather than a driving force. While some players appreciate the freedom to create their own objectives within the sandbox environment, others express a desire for a more developed storyline and additional campaign missions to enhance the experience.

    • “Factorio is a game that takes the idea of a supply chain and turns it into an epic quest for survival.”
    • “The story of Factorio is simple: you become stranded on a hostile alien planet and must build a rocket to escape.”
    • “The story is engaging, the world is surprising and immersive, and it has a great loop of venturing out and heading back to base.”
    • “It doesn't have any subtext, it doesn't have any story or plot, it doesn't introduce anything new on the next playthrough.”
    • “In many places it seems as if the story team just gave up and put technical restrictions in without any good reasoning.”
    • “The story is very thin and there's no character development at all.”
  • grinding
    896 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback from players. While many appreciate the depth and complexity of the factory-building mechanics, some find the process tedious, especially during the early and mid-game stages where manual tasks dominate. However, the game's automation features and modding community help alleviate some of the grind, allowing players to optimize their experience and focus on creative problem-solving rather than repetitive tasks. Overall, those who enjoy grinding and optimization in games will likely find it rewarding, while others may feel overwhelmed by the complexity and tedium at times.

    • “Also, there is no grinding in this game, as each challenge is new and interesting.”
    • “It combines city building with the itch to organize and design logic systems in a way that is not tedious, but compellingly engaging.”
    • “There's no grinding in this game to get resources, the whole point of this game is to automate the boring stuff.”
    • “Having to heat everything is a cool mechanic, but having to farm the ice platforms and ship in the concrete is super tedious.”
    • “I really want to like the game, but there are so many aspects of it that are unnecessarily tedious, fussy, full of friction, or poorly explained.”
    • “The game can grow tedious/tiresome or too overwhelming at times.”
  • music
    794 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in Factorio has received widespread acclaim for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, effectively complementing the game's industrial theme and enhancing the overall experience. Many players appreciate the soundtrack's ability to create a haunting yet calming backdrop, making it suitable for long gaming sessions, while some find it repetitive over time. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a significant aspect of the game, with many recommending purchasing the music packs for an even richer auditory experience.

    • “The music is beautifully created and it fits so well with the world, which is visually very appealing and the best part is that it runs very well on low-end PCs.”
    • “The soundtrack is incredible, perfectly complementing the game’s tone of quiet productivity and inevitable expansion.”
    • “The music is upbeat, but calming at the same time, creating an engaging environment where every decision matters.”
    • “The music is industrial ambient with little melody, and although the DLC adds a generative music feature, I still find myself muting the game and listening to music or podcasts.”
    • “The overall rusty color of ground, enemies and buildings, plus the [depressive] soundtrack is something I dislike and sometimes suck it up only to enjoy the gameplay for a while.”
    • “I get that it is supposed to be ambient music, but it falls into a pitfall of repetitive, boring music that really doesn't enhance the play experience.”
  • stability
    316 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is widely praised, with many players reporting it as virtually bug-free and exceptionally well-optimized, even on low-end hardware. While a few minor glitches and issues have been noted, they are generally considered rare and quickly addressed by the developers. Overall, players appreciate the game's smooth performance and the developers' commitment to maintaining a high-quality experience, making it one of the most stable titles in the genre.

    • “Virtually bug free, stable and obsessively optimized.”
    • “The sheer level of polish, bug-free gameplay, and things just work without crashing for 10+ hours at a time should be the gaming gold standard.”
    • “The developers' attention to every detail has managed to create an almost completely bug-free game.”
    • “Everything after that is a headache-inducing buggy mess, both literally and computationally.”
    • “The game runs well, plays well, isn't a buggy mess, and is priced well.”
    • “Half the time the robot hands stop working for no reason, even though they have fuel and everything else needed; it's a buggy game.”
  • humor
    308 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is frequently highlighted as a key aspect, with players enjoying its absurdist and chaotic elements, such as the comical interactions with bizarre bugs and the humorous consequences of their factory-building antics. Many reviews mention the game's ability to create hilarious moments, especially in multiplayer settings, where players can share laughs over mishaps and unexpected outcomes. Overall, the blend of quirky humor and complex mechanics contributes to a uniquely entertaining experience that keeps players engaged and amused.

    • “The game brilliantly combines humor with its intricate mechanics, keeping you entertained as you delve deeper into its intricacies.”
    • “Quirky pop culture references, sly puns, and subtle jabs at your own sanity are cleverly woven into the game, leaving you chuckling maniacally as your factory spirals into a frenzy of mayhem and automation.”
    • “Amidst the mind-boggling complexity of managing an ever-growing factory, the developers somehow found the perfect way to inject humor into the mix.”
    • “Not funny”
    • “So much to this game it's not funny!”
    • “Because, it's not funny.”
  • atmosphere
    193 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere in Factorio is widely praised for its immersive and engaging qualities, enhanced by a haunting soundtrack and detailed sound design that captures the industrial essence of the game. Players appreciate the unique blend of environmental storytelling, where the visuals and audio work together to create a captivating experience of building and expanding a factory while grappling with the consequences of pollution. Overall, the game's atmosphere is described as both atmospheric and addictive, drawing players into its world of automation and resource management.

    • “The music is understated but hauntingly atmospheric, perfectly complementing the game’s tone of quiet productivity and inevitable expansion.”
    • “The sounds of whirring machines, clanking inserters, and distant train horns create an immersive atmosphere that pulls you deeper into the factory.”
    • “The ambient sounds and music further enhance the immersive atmosphere, creating an engaging environment where every decision matters.”
    • “The atmosphere of the game is so bleak thanks to the near featureless landscape, cacophonous machinery, unearthly fauna, and desolate soundtrack.”
    • “The industrial landscape, filled with machines humming and smokestacks billowing, creates a distinct atmosphere that immerses players in the world they are building.”
    • “However, the good points of the game is that it's so methodical and slow-paced that it can be quite relaxing to play it, and the overwhelming sense of pride as you turn the landscape into concrete and fill the atmosphere with pollution is quite fulfilling.”
  • emotional
    125 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game elicits a wide range of feelings, from joy and accomplishment to frustration and heartbreak. Players often describe it as an emotional rollercoaster, where moments of triumph in building and optimizing factories are juxtaposed with the despair of setbacks and failures. While some find deep emotional connections to the game's characters and storylines, others note a more mechanical, detached experience, highlighting the game's ability to evoke strong feelings despite its industrial theme.

    • “Every character has an emotional storyline, and the conclusion of each storyline is even more emotional.”
    • “This game has taken me on an emotional rollercoaster that rivals any real-life rollercoaster, complete with moments of exhilarating joy and heart-wrenching frustration.”
    • “All those months of pent-up emotions, unconsciously put away so I could focus on mom, came to the surface in what I can only describe as the ultimate emotional release.”
  • monetization
    108 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Factorio is praised for its transparent monetization model, featuring no microtransactions, DLCs, or in-game purchases, which many players find refreshing in a gaming landscape often filled with exploitative practices. While some users note the game's price as steep, they generally agree that the lack of additional costs makes it a worthwhile investment. The developers are commended for their commitment to delivering a polished experience without the distractions of monetization tactics, fostering a dedicated community of players.

    • “There are no microtransactions or artificial time-gates; all complexity is driven by your own design choices and the logical constraints of the systems you create.”
    • “The developers refuse to add microtransactions, pointless fluff, or anything that dilutes the purity of the experience.”
    • “What you see is what you pay, just like the games of old, no nonsense, no DLC, no microtransactions, no loot boxes, no subscriptions, no exclusive editions... also, the price is really low for the quality and content and the many hours of playtime I have spent with this game.”
    • “One of my favorite games ruined by greedy monetization from devs who explicitly said they would never do something like that.”
    • “Used to be a solid 8 out of 10, but then they released a cash grab DLC which fundamentally broke many of the positive aspects of the game.”
    • “It really seems like these developers have their priorities straight and aren't just out to rob gamers blind with DLC cash grabs and half-finished games.”
  • character development
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviews indicate a significant lack of character development, with many users noting that the story feels thin and fails to provide depth or immersion. Even those who typically appreciate character growth find little to engage with in this aspect.

    • “I'd go out on a limb and say that even if you're more into character development, there's a lot for you here.”
    • “The story is very thin and there's no character development at all.”
    • “There isn't a lot of immersion, or lore, or character development.”
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80%Critics’ scoreBased on 8 critic reviews
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91h Median play time
370h Average play time
49h Main story
223h Completionist
24-500h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 1,508 analyzed playthroughs
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Skip FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Factorio is a survival strategy game with science fiction theme.

Factorio is available on Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac OS, Steam Deck and others.

The main story can be completed in around 49 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 223 hours to finish. On average players spend around 370 hours playing Factorio.

Factorio was released on August 13, 2020.

Factorio was developed by Wube Software LTD..

Factorio has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its grinding.

Factorio is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include Satisfactory, Dyson Sphere Program, shapez 2, Mindustry, Oxygen Not Included and others.