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Scrap Mechanic

91%Game Brain Score
graphics, story
gameplay, grinding
91% User Score Based on 97,998 reviews

Platforms

PCPCWindowsWindowsCloudCloudNVIDIA GeForce NOWNVIDIA GeForce NOW
Buy Nowfrom $3.26
Buy NowGet on Steam $13.39

About

Scrap Mechanic is a multiplayer survival sandbox game that lets you build and create using powerful tools. Crash-landed on a strange planet, you must defend against hostile Farmbots and engineer your own adventures. Regular updates bring new content and optimizations to this imaginative, robot-filled world.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
Scrap Mechanic screenshot
Scrap Mechanic screenshot
Scrap Mechanic screenshot
Scrap Mechanic screenshot
Scrap Mechanic screenshot
Scrap Mechanic screenshot
Scrap Mechanic screenshot
Scrap Mechanic screenshot
Scrap Mechanic screenshot
Scrap Mechanic screenshot
Scrap Mechanic screenshot
+15

91%
Audience ScoreBased on 97,998 reviews
graphics810 positive mentions
gameplay3.1k negative mentions
  • The game offers exceptional creative freedom with robust building mechanics and a deep physics engine, allowing players to construct a wide variety of vehicles and contraptions.
  • Players appreciate the humorous and entertaining moments that arise from the game's glitchy physics, especially when playing with friends.
  • Scrap Mechanic is praised for its replayability, with a sandbox environment that encourages creativity and extensive modding options.
  • Many players express frustration with the survival mode's grindy nature, lack of clear objectives, and the overwhelming resource gathering required to progress.
  • The game suffers from significant performance issues, particularly in multiplayer, with reports of lag, glitches, and crashes that detract from the overall experience.
  • There are concerns about the game's lack of content and updates, leading some to feel it resembles a cash grab rather than a fully developed title.
  • gameplay
    8,548 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of Scrap Mechanic is characterized by its emphasis on creativity and mechanical engineering, allowing players to build a wide variety of vehicles and contraptions using a robust physics engine. While the game offers engaging mechanics and a sandbox environment, many players express frustration with the survival mode's grindy nature and lack of direction, as well as performance issues, particularly in multiplayer. Overall, Scrap Mechanic is praised for its innovative building mechanics and potential for creativity, but it is also critiqued for its optimization and the need for more content and clearer gameplay objectives.

    • “The gameplay is fun and allows for a great deal of creativity.”
    • “Scrap mechanic not only allows for some awesome engineer level work with cars, planes, helicopters, and even homes but it makes a great game to play with friends.”
    • “The building mechanics are incredible with a physics system that is deep and robust.”
    • “If you want a game similar in style/mechanics, play Stationeers, which is the same price on sale, far more fun, and gets updates once a week, which is quite an upgrade considering this game hasn't had a real update in two years.”
    • “There's a lack of direction or instruction so it's not really clear what the goal is or how things work, and the one thing I did try to do was plant some crops, but then quickly fell afoul of an unexplained mechanic where you get attacked for unauthorized farming.”
    • “Unfortunately, about another 20 hours into our gameplay, everyone not hosting experienced significant input lag, rendering the game unplayable.”
  • graphics
    1,872 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the colorful, cartoonish art style and overall aesthetic appeal. However, there are significant concerns regarding performance, particularly on lower-end systems, as the game can be demanding on hardware, leading to lag and graphical glitches. While some players find the visuals charming and well-suited to the gameplay, others criticize the optimization and the need for a powerful graphics card to fully enjoy the experience.

    • “The graphics are surprisingly beautiful and for £15 (£10 on sale just now) this game is very worth it.”
    • “The game's graphics are also a highlight, with a charming and colorful aesthetic that brings the game world to life.”
    • “The complexity coupled with the beautiful graphics of this game is awesome.”
    • “And yes, it is not a released game, I get that, but even for pre-release the maintenance isn't there, updates aren't there, performance isn't there, graphics and physics are barely there (with lighting going through walls, constant glitches and fundamentally broken collisions), so what's left?”
    • “The graphics could only be described as subpar and frankly cartoonish.”
    • “Thought I'd try this again after a long break, graphics fall apart even on medium settings on a great PC, physics are wonky, and the game gives you very little to go on besides 'here's how to build a car that will constantly roll over and a door you won't have the resources to build for a while.' Pass.”
  • grinding
    1,838 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of "Scrap Mechanic" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that the survival mode is excessively grindy and often tedious. Players frequently express frustration over the time-consuming resource gathering required to progress, particularly in farming, which is central to gameplay but can lead to overwhelming robot raids. While some enjoy the challenge and find satisfaction in the grind, others feel it detracts from the overall experience, making it less enjoyable, especially in solo play.

    • “The farming would be nice, but it’s not fun that it gets attacked by robots before the crops grow.”
    • “I definitely recommend this game for people who like sandboxes & grindy survival (not too grindy, they've balanced that all out.)”
    • “It's still in 'early access' but I was expecting something good and not that grinding for a survival game, don't get me wrong it's a great game but the grind takes my life away.”
    • “The survival mode feels boring, empty, and grindy.”
    • “My goal was to get a farming setup going, although the sheer amount of grinding required to accomplish this task overwhelmed my enthusiasm eventually.”
    • “Survival mode is a grindy mess.”
  • stability
    1,432 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The stability of the game is a significant concern among players, with many reporting frequent bugs, glitches, and performance issues, particularly in multiplayer mode. While some players find the glitches amusing and part of the game's charm, others express frustration over game-breaking issues and a lack of updates to address these problems. Overall, the game is described as fun but very buggy, with many recommending it only for those who can tolerate its current state of instability.

    • “I've been playing this game for about 6 hours now and all I've been wanting to do is get back on. It runs great, has an awesome community, and I haven't found any bugs. Overall, it's a great game.”
    • “I am on Linux and it runs great.”
    • “Solid sandbox game runs great on a low-end PC.”
    • “I gave it more than a fair chance (6 years, 1151 hours) and kept rationalizing its bad performance, multiplayer lag, all the glitches, and lack of updates or build-breaking updates when they happen, but at one point it was just too much and my patience ran out.”
    • “And yes, it is not a released game, I get that, but even for pre-release the maintenance isn't there, updates aren't there, performance isn't there, graphics and physics are barely there (with lighting going through walls, constant glitches and fundamentally broken collisions), so what's left?”
    • “Scrap mechanic would be a delightfully fun game if the core gameplay weren't such a buggy dysfunctional mess that makes it just about unplayable in its current state.”
  • story
    1,380 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story aspect is widely criticized for being nearly non-existent, with many players expressing disappointment over the lack of a coherent narrative or meaningful objectives in survival mode. While some enjoy the sandbox mechanics and creative building opportunities, they feel that the absence of a structured storyline or quests significantly detracts from the overall experience. Many users hope for future updates to introduce a more developed story and engaging content, as the current state leaves players feeling unfulfilled and directionless.

    • “I highly enjoy the survival; back when I played for the first time I didn't know what to do, but now there's a tutorial and quests at the start of survival and it is super fun.”
    • “The long awaited story mode will be a great addition to the replayability this game has.”
    • “I really hope the developers reveal more about the story, because honestly it seems so interesting and would love to know more about what happened to cause this post-apocalyptic world.”
    • “The survival mode story still isn't complete, and might never be.”
    • “There is a survival mode, but that has no clear objectives or storyline to it.”
    • “The story just ends, the world is mostly empty, the game loop (once understood) is not encouraging.”
  • optimization
    1,278 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The optimization of the game has received mixed feedback from players, with many citing significant performance issues, especially in multiplayer and when handling complex builds. While some users report improvements and decent performance on lower-end systems, others experience severe lag and crashes, particularly when creating larger contraptions. Overall, there is a strong consensus that the game requires substantial optimization to enhance gameplay stability and performance, especially as it continues to evolve in early access.

    • “They've done a masterful job on the optimization.”
    • “This game runs smoothly regardless of what I've done to it.”
    • “The recent optimizations really improve the user experience with less lag with many bots objects and improved support for modifications for the game.”
    • “I gave it more than a fair chance (6 years, 1151 hours) and kept rationalizing its bad performance, multiplayer lag, all the glitches, and lack of updates or build-breaking updates when they happen, but at one point it was just too much and my patience ran out.”
    • “The optimization in multiplayer is almost non-existent, and chaos ensues should you spawn in even a slightly complex creation.”
    • “This game is just not optimized at all and I wouldn't recommend risking your GPU for this.”
  • humor
    874 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in this game is a standout feature, with players frequently highlighting the hilarity stemming from its glitchy physics and the absurdity of their creations. Many reviews emphasize that the game is particularly entertaining when played with friends, leading to countless laugh-out-loud moments as players navigate the chaos of their own designs. Overall, the combination of creative freedom and comedic mishaps makes for a uniquely funny gaming experience.

    • “I don't know if I've ever laughed as hard with friends as I have with this game - the physics are just hilarious and worth every penny.”
    • “This game is a mess and can be rather frustrating, if you try to play glitch-less vanilla, but it's buggy in the funny way more often than a frustrating way.”
    • “The physics are pretty janky, but more often than not, it leads to a pretty funny result.”
    • “You're not funny!”
    • “Game is not funny.”
    • “You're not funny!”
  • music
    208 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its relaxing and upbeat nature, which enhances the overall gameplay experience. However, some users have noted a lack of variety and repetitiveness in the soundtrack, as well as technical issues that affect music playback. Overall, while the sound design is praised for its quality, there are calls for more diverse music options to keep the experience fresh.

    • “The game's music further enhances the mood, with a dynamic soundtrack that adapts to the player's actions and surroundings, adding an extra layer of emotional resonance to the gameplay experience.”
    • “The sound design is also well-done, with appropriate sound effects and a catchy soundtrack that adds to the overall fun factor.”
    • “Scrap mechanic's music is really relaxing and it's a good way to be creative on your own accord.”
    • “Everything is the same; the music gets boring, and the monsters are the same (just 5, and you don't see 3 of them when you begin).”
    • “The creative mode is incomplete and lacks many things from survival mode that I would have liked to use; such as soil, plants, water cannons, etc. The sound design is odd; most developers would like you to hear the sound effects and music the game has to offer, but apparently that wasn't a concern here... I have everything cranked up to maximum volume, and with headphones on, I hear practically nothing.”
    • “Very poor sound/music design (the music is really quite depressing) and an ill-fitting overall atmosphere put this game in quite an awkward situation.”
  • replayability
    114 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is widely praised for its exceptional replayability, with many users noting its near-infinite potential due to its sandbox mechanics and extensive modding options. Players appreciate the variety of creative possibilities, which significantly enhance the overall experience, although some mention stability issues and a desire for more content. Overall, it is considered a highly replayable game that offers countless hours of enjoyment.

    • “Fantastic game, near infinite replayability and brilliant sandbox mechanics; basically anything is possible to build with very few restrictions as to what you can make.”
    • “This game has nearly infinite replayability, and modding just multiplies that by a billion times.”
    • “Scrap mechanic’s sandbox nature ensures near-infinite replayability, especially in creative mode.”
    • “After the big update, this game is no longer playable for me.”
    • “So much replayability, needs another mode to give reason to the building.”
    • “Replayability: 6/10”
  • emotional
    62 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players express a wide range of emotions while engaging with the game, from joy and nostalgia to frustration and disappointment. Many highlight the heartwarming experiences of creativity and freedom in building, particularly in survival mode, which fosters emotional investment. However, technical issues like lag and glitches can lead to moments of stress and sadness, contrasting with the overall wholesome and engaging nature of the gameplay.

    • “When your friend pulls out his hair after lags, I want to cry like rain on a sad autumn day.”
    • “Made me a moving house on four wheels; it could barely even move, but it was the most wholesome experience I could ever think of.”
    • “When survival mode came out, I found myself hopelessly addicted again and emotionally invested in all the things I was building and learning.”
  • atmosphere
    50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is a blend of creativity and immersion, characterized by blocky landscapes, quirky character designs, and rich, detailed environments that evoke feelings of both cheerfulness and loneliness. Players appreciate the vibrant aesthetics and sound design, which enhance the experience, although some note that pre-built structures can detract from the overall ambiance. Overall, the atmosphere is praised for its ability to inspire imagination and exploration, making it a compelling aspect of the game.

    • “The game's environments are rich in detail, with each biome offering its own distinct aesthetic and atmosphere.”
    • “I absolutely love this game's open-ended world and atmosphere; it allows for so much to happen.”
    • “The game's sound design is also top-notch, with a variety of sound effects and musical cues that add to the game's immersive atmosphere.”
    • “I got into the atmosphere of loneliness in this dangerous world full of mad robots.”
    • “Too many pre-built structures which killed the atmosphere for me a little.”
    • “Very poor sound/music design (the music is really quite depressing) and an ill-fitting overall atmosphere put this game in quite an awkward situation.”
  • monetization
    34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is praised for its lack of in-game purchases and microtransactions, which many players appreciate as a positive aspect. However, some users express concerns that the game feels like a cash grab due to its perceived lack of content and gameplay depth. Overall, while the absence of monetization is highlighted as a strength, there are mixed feelings about the game's quality and value.

    • “It has no in-game purchases, and it's really fun with friends!”
    • “Also tons of new content and no microtransactions; it is 100% worth it.”
    • “There are no microtransactions, thankfully.”
    • “Cash grab early access”
    • “Game seems more like a cash grab.”
    • “It's hard not to look at what they have created and see something that looks like they just tacked a couple of random survival mechanics together, inflated the grind to hide the lack of content and gameplay, and they pushed the resulting pile of scrap out the door as a quick cash grab.”
  • character development
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is met with mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the quirky and imaginative dwarf character designs that enhance the game's atmosphere, others find the character design unappealing, particularly criticizing the jiggle physics. Overall, the character design seems to evoke strong reactions, both positive and negative.

    • “The blocky landscapes and quirky character designs contribute to an atmosphere that feels like a virtual workshop, inviting you to unleash your imagination.”
    • “My only three complaints, however, are as follows... for one, the character design is disgusting, especially with the annoying jiggle physics they have.”

Buy Scrap Mechanic

141h Median play time
313h Average play time
17-509h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 490 analyzed playthroughs

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