Scrap Mechanic

About

Scrap Mechanic is a single player and multiplayer open world simulation game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Axolot Games and was released on January 19, 2016. It received very positive reviews from players.

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

+10

Skip User Reviews

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 50,535 reviews

graphics408 positive mentions

gameplay1.6k negative mentions

Scrap Mechanic offers a unique blend of creative building and survival mechanics, allowing players to construct intricate machines and vehicles with intuitive gameplay.
The game has high replayability, especially in creative mode, where players can continuously experiment and build unique creations, enhanced by community mods.
The humorous and quirky physics lead to entertaining moments, particularly when playing with friends, creating a light-hearted atmosphere.

The survival mode is criticized for being grind-heavy, repetitive, and lacking depth, which detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.
Many players report significant performance issues, including bugs and lag, particularly in multiplayer modes, which can disrupt gameplay.
The game's story aspect is minimal, leaving players feeling aimless and unfulfilled due to the lack of structured objectives or narrative depth.

gameplay
4,507 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
41%
36%
The gameplay of Scrap Mechanic is characterized by its unique blend of creative building and survival mechanics, allowing players to construct intricate machines and vehicles using a variety of parts. While the game offers a robust sandbox experience with endless possibilities for creativity, many players find the survival mode to be grindy and lacking in depth, often feeling repetitive and unbalanced. Despite its flaws, including performance issues and a steep learning curve, Scrap Mechanic remains a favorite among those who enjoy mechanical engineering and imaginative gameplay, particularly when played with friends or enhanced through community mods.
- “Scrap mechanic is a fantastic game that has quickly become one of my favorites! The gameplay is fun, and you have complete freedom to design bases and vehicles however you want.”
- “The mechanics let wannabe engineers bring their wildest ideas to life — like a tractor-tank-harvester hybrid, for example. The building mechanics are intuitive and enjoyable, allowing you to let your imagination run wild.”
- “Scrap mechanic is an amazing game that allows players to create their own machines, contraptions, and vehicles using various materials and components. The gameplay is engaging, and the various biomes and survival challenges keep it fresh.”
- “Scrap mechanic isn't perfect; in fact, there are so many problems with this game, but most of those problems are within survival mode, which isn't even finished.”
- “The survival gameplay is also overly grind-heavy, disappointing for a game with so much automation potential.”
- “The mechanics of the game are hard to understand, but once you understand them, you can do some amazing stuff.”
grinding
981 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
90%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback from players, with many describing it as excessively tedious and time-consuming, particularly in survival mode. Players often find themselves engaged in repetitive tasks such as resource gathering and farming, which can feel unrewarding and lead to frustration, especially when compounded by enemy raids triggered by farming activities. While some enjoy the challenge and sense of progression that comes with grinding, others feel it detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game, suggesting that improvements are needed to balance the grind with more engaging gameplay elements.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “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.”
- “Everything is super grindy and the mechanics seem purpose-built to take too long.”
- “Honestly, I was interested in this game since it was in early access, but now actually playing it in survival mode feels very boring and static. The progression feels very grindy in a usually unrewarding or outright punishing way.”
- “Survival mode is unfinished and a grind just to play, and the tutorial is not clear on things, so if you’re here for a survival game, just don’t... unless you like grinding games.”
graphics
959 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
53%
4%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the charming, cartoonish art style and vibrant colors that enhance the overall experience. However, some users have criticized the graphics for being simplistic or lacking depth, particularly in certain areas, and noted performance issues on lower-end systems. Overall, while the visuals are generally considered appealing, they may require a decent graphics card to run smoothly, especially with complex creations.
- “The charming graphics and engaging sound effects enhance the experience, while the various biomes and survival challenges keep gameplay fresh.”
- “Thanks to its beautiful, stylized graphics and a huge replayability potential, it's aging like fine wine.”
- “The game's graphics are also a highlight, with a charming and colorful aesthetic that brings the game world to life.”
- “Don't buy this please, there is little to no graphics!”
- “The graphics could only be described as subpar and frankly cartoonish.”
- “The graphics are too much for many computers to handle.”
story
749 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
72%
13%
The game's story aspect is widely criticized for being minimal or non-existent, with many players expressing frustration over the lack of quests and narrative depth in survival mode. While some enjoy the sandbox mechanics and potential for creativity, they feel that the absence of a structured storyline or objectives detracts from the overall experience. Many reviewers hope for future updates to expand the story and introduce more engaging content, as the current state leaves players feeling aimless and unfulfilled.
- “Very fun to play and has a good story.”
- “I'm a big fan of sandbox games, especially when they have a story mode that propels you forward and challenges you to build new things to achieve your goals.”
- “The story unfolds as you travel across these post-robot-apocalypse tile sets in search of raw materials to craft your own machines capable of sawing and drilling apart the land and robots.”
- “The story is nearly non-existent, and the gameplay just becomes frustrating once the engine gets to the point it no longer can keep up with the calculations.”
- “There is no real story, it is just a sandbox game.”
- “The survival mode story has you playing the role of a robot maintenance mechanic in space.”
stability
727 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
1%
94%
The game's stability is a significant concern among players, with many describing it as "very buggy" and prone to various glitches that can disrupt gameplay. While some players find the bugs amusing and part of the charm, others report that they can be frustrating and game-breaking, particularly in multiplayer modes. Overall, the game is still in early access, and while it offers a fun experience, players should be prepared for a range of technical issues that may affect their enjoyment.
- “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.”
- “This is also a good game for people with a lower-end GPU (I have a 1060 3GB and it runs great).”
- “Solid sandbox game runs great on a low-end PC.”
- “The game is still the same buggy mess it was almost a decade ago with no signs of potential fixes coming anytime soon.”
- “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.”
- “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. It's been all but abandoned and is laggier than trying to open 100 tabs on a school laptop.”
optimization
661 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
59%
25%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews from players. While some appreciate the regular updates and improvements in performance, many express frustration over persistent lag, especially with complex builds and in multiplayer modes. Overall, the game is seen as poorly optimized, with significant performance issues that hinder gameplay, particularly for those using lower-end hardware.
- “New content is being added and optimizations are being made regularly.”
- “They've done a masterful job on the optimization.”
- “The recent optimizations really improve the user experience with less lag with many bots and objects.”
- “Permanent early access, the developers released 0 content updates in over 5 years, zero contact on any social media, they abandoned the game and will not develop it further, don't waste your money on it, current content is horribly unoptimized as well.”
- “The game is already very old and it is still badly optimized.”
- “This game is just not optimized at all and I wouldn't recommend risking your GPU for this.”
humor
455 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in this game is a standout feature, with players frequently highlighting the hilariously buggy physics and unexpected glitches that lead to laugh-out-loud moments. Many reviews emphasize the joy of playing with friends, where chaotic creations and mishaps result in endless entertainment. Overall, the game's quirky mechanics and light-hearted atmosphere make it a delightful experience for those who enjoy comedic gameplay.
- “The physics can lead to some hilarious moments, and you never know what you’ll come up with next, making it a game you can always return to for some light-hearted fun.”
- “It’s one of those games where you’ll find yourself chuckling at your own failures and loving every minute of it.”
- “We’ve spent hours just building weird stuff and laughing at how it all goes wrong.”
- “You're not funny!”
- “The game is not funny.”
music
101 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
62%
7%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its relaxing and whimsical qualities that enhance the overall aesthetic and gameplay experience. However, others find it repetitive and lacking in variety, suggesting that it can become boring over time. Overall, while the sound design complements the visuals well, many players express a desire for a broader selection of tracks to maintain engagement during longer play sessions.
- “The sound design complements the aesthetic perfectly, with whimsical effects that bring mechanical creations to life and a lively soundtrack that keeps the energy high.”
- “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.”
- “Scrap mechanic's music is really relaxing and it's a good way to be creative on your own accord.”
- “If you do choose to buy this game, turn the music off.”
- “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're a beginner).”
- “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
64 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
50%
5%
The game is widely praised for its high replayability, particularly in creative mode, where players can continuously experiment and build unique creations. While some users note limitations in survival mode and the need for more content, many agree that the sandbox nature and modding capabilities provide nearly infinite replay value. Overall, it is considered one of the most replayable sandbox games available, with a strong emphasis on creativity and fun.
- “The replayability is massive, especially in creative mode, where you’ll keep finding small things to tweak until your simple car basically turns into a James Bond supercar on steroids that handles like a NASCAR and flies like Back to the Future.”
- “Fantastic game, near infinite replayability and brilliant sandbox mechanics, basically anything is possible to build with very few restrictions as to what the game and parts are capable of in terms of what you can make.”
- “This game has nearly infinite replayability and modding just multiplies that by a billion times.”
- “This is the best sandbox game ever made, even the survival mode is kind of decent and is a lot of fun; sadly, it's extremely not replayable because you only have so many options to do.”
- “After the big update, this game is no longer playable for me.”
- “So much replayability, but it needs another mode to give reason to the building.”
emotional
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a wide range of emotions in their experiences with the game, from joy and nostalgia when creating unique contraptions to frustration over technical issues like lag and glitches. The emotional resonance is heightened by the game's dynamic soundtrack and the sense of freedom it offers, allowing players to invest themselves deeply in their creations. While some find the game wholesome and engaging, others struggle with its limitations, leading to mixed feelings about their overall enjoyment.
- “When survival mode came out, I found myself hopelessly addicted again and emotionally invested in all the things I was building and learning.”
- “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.”
- “Made me a moving house on four wheels; I could barely even move, but it was the most wholesome experience I could ever think of.”
atmosphere
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
52%
12%
The game's atmosphere is a blend of cheerful and relaxed vibes, enhanced by quirky graphics and detailed environments that invite creativity and exploration. Players appreciate the non-toxic community and the immersive feeling of both vibrant and lonely settings, depending on the gameplay mode. However, some critiques mention issues with sound design and the presence of pre-built structures that can detract from the overall experience.
- “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 atmosphere and feeling as you explore the world also blew my mind.”
- “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
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
80%
The game's monetization model is generally viewed positively due to the absence of in-game purchases and microtransactions, which many players appreciate. However, some users express concerns that the game feels like a cash grab, criticizing its content and gameplay depth. Overall, while the lack of monetization is a plus, the game's quality and design have led to mixed feelings among players.
- “It has no in-game purchases, and it's really fun with friends!”
- “Microtransactions = none”
- “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
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
Character development in the game is met with mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the unique and imaginative character designs that enhance the game's atmosphere, others find certain aspects, like the jiggle physics, off-putting and unappealing. Overall, the character design elicits a polarized response among users.
- “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.”