ShapeHero Factory

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In "ShapeHero Factory," players build factories to mass-produce heroes and defend against waves of enemies in a tower defense setting. With no direct control over heroes, players must strategically reinforce their factory using unique artifacts earned as rewards. Surviving each wave leads to a final battle against the Great Calamity sealed within the Book of Magic.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 96 reviews

gameplay5 positive mentions

replayability2 negative mentions

The game offers a unique blend of factory building and tower defense mechanics, providing a fresh and engaging gameplay experience.
Each run feels distinct due to the randomized elements, allowing for varied strategies and replayability.
The art style is charming and adds to the overall enjoyable atmosphere of the game.

Runs can feel too short, limiting the opportunity to fully explore higher-tier units and strategies.
The game currently suffers from balance issues, with some units and upgrades being underwhelming or ineffective.
RNG elements can lead to frustrating experiences, as critical tools and upgrades may not be available when needed.

gameplay
14 mentions
36 % positive mentions
43 % neutral mentions
21 % negative mentions
The gameplay is praised for its excellent core mechanics, strategic depth, and engaging combination of factory-building and roguelike elements, making it both delightful and addictive. However, some players feel the main gameplay loop is short, limiting the investment in higher-tier units, and suggest improvements like hover-over tooltips for better clarity. Overall, while the game offers a solid experience, it may lack variety for those seeking more complexity.
- “The core gameplay is excellent.”
- “While beating it on normal difficulty may feel a bit quick, the game’s replayability, unique mechanics, and strategic depth make it a standout in the genre.”
- “The combination of a factory game and a roguelike, the cute visuals, and the gameplay loop makes this game delightful and addicting.”
- “I've never needed to nor had the time to build a factory to even use the mice mechanics (or any of the really late game units) because you more or less don't get to them until you have 2-3 building phases left in the run.”
- “My biggest concern currently is that the main gameplay loop is a bit short, making tier 3 units just not worth investing in compared to just getting a bit more tier 2.”
- “But at the same time there are some things that feel boring/not that engaging in the gameplay.”
graphics
5 mentions
60 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are praised for their cute and vibrant art style, which features a whimsical storybook aesthetic that sets it apart from typical factory-themed games. Reviewers highlight the engaging visuals and creative design, contributing to an addictive gameplay experience that combines factory mechanics with roguelike elements. Overall, the artwork enhances the fun and charm of the game, making it visually appealing and enjoyable.
- “Its vibrant art style, endless variability, and rewarding progression system keep it engaging even after multiple playthroughs.”
- “The combination of a factory game and a roguelike, the cute visuals, and the gameplay loop makes this game delightful and addicting.”
- “This game is insanely fun; the mix of automation and wave defense feels well thought out, and overall the aesthetics of the game are amazing.”
replayability
3 mentions
33 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
The game offers strong replayability through unique mechanics and varied setups for each playthrough, ensuring that no two games feel the same. Although the initial run may be quick, the strategic depth and difficulty scaling contribute to lasting enjoyment and encourage multiple playthroughs.
- “Unique runs: different setups for each playthrough ensure no two games feel the same, greatly enhancing replay value.”
- “While beating it on normal difficulty may feel a bit quick, the game’s replayability, unique mechanics, and strategic depth make it a standout in the genre.”
- “While it may feel short on the initial run, the game’s replayability and difficulty scaling ensure lasting enjoyment.”
story
3 mentions
33 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
The game's story is minimal, focusing more on gameplay mechanics than narrative depth. However, it creatively combines factory-building elements with a whimsical storybook art style in a fantasy setting, enhancing the overall experience. Players appreciate the unique approach, even if the story isn't the main draw.
- “Another one of the many factory-like games that came out over the recent year, but this one actually got really creative by making it a roguelike and changing the usual factory and industrial look with a lovely whimsical storybook art style in a fantasy setting!”
- “I'm okay with it not having much of a story to follow up on.”
- “The factory concept works - I would reset the map after every mission with a newer setup.”
optimization
2 mentions
50 % positive mentions
-100 % neutral mentions
150 % negative mentions
The game's optimization aspect is seen as a mixed bag; while it creatively combines factory optimization with tower defense elements, some players feel that the imposed pressure detracts from the enjoyment and strategic depth typically found in factory games.
- “An interesting and unusual blend of factory optimization and tower defense roguelike.”
- “The game suffers from severe optimization issues, making it nearly unplayable on lower-end systems.”
- “I experienced frequent frame drops and stuttering, which really detracted from the overall experience.”
- “Despite its potential, the lack of proper optimization leads to frustrating gameplay and long loading times.”
atmosphere
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is characterized by upbeat music that creates a relaxing and enjoyable experience, enhancing the rewarding gameplay loop of exploring random units and building a cohesive team. The combination of vibrant soundscapes and dynamic world elements contributes to an engaging and immersive environment.
- “The chipper music and atmosphere make it very enjoyable and relaxing, and the core gameplay loop is very rewarding and cool to explore random units and forge a 'team' that will work in the end based on the random generation of both the canvas, the rewards, and the world map-tree.”
music
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The music is described as chipper and atmospheric, contributing to an enjoyable and relaxing experience. It complements the rewarding gameplay loop, enhancing the exploration of random units and team-building based on the game's dynamic elements.
- “The chipper music and atmosphere make it very enjoyable and relaxing, enhancing the core gameplay loop, which is rewarding and cool as you explore random units and forge a team that will ultimately succeed based on the random generation of the canvas, rewards, and world map-tree.”
grinding
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly due to the repetitive nature of placing numerous construction mechanisms to create the same basic chain.
- “Placing the many construction mechanisms to create the same basic chain is tedious.”
- “The grinding feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “I find myself doing the same tasks over and over, which really drains the fun out of the game.”