Assembly Planter

I like it. It has some drawbacks, some QoL stuff that would improve it, but it's $5 normally, $2 on sale. So I've def gotten my money's worth.

It really wants to present itself as Factorio - but it's very different. The primary gameplay seems to be artificially gating resources to slow down play which is a valid definition of a game but also not my kinda game.

Assembly Planter is an automation game built around creating production chains for planting and harvesting in order to generate increasingly complex resources. The concept is simple on the surface, but it quickly opens the door to deep optimization and creative problem solving. The gameplay is extremely satisfying for players who enjoy optimization challenges using logic. Unlocks are paced well, requiring enough planning and setup to feel rewarding without forcing excessive optimization. One of the most interesting mechanics is the shrink feature, which allows recursion within production chains - this dramatically expands what is possible and gives the game its unique identity among automation titles. While the underlying design is strong, the game still feels somewhat rough around the edges. Several interface quirks and usability issues make it feel closer to an early access project than a fully polished release. Small frustrations such as inconsistent hotkeys, awkward copy-paste behavior, and UI elements occasionally getting in the way can interrupt the otherwise smooth gameplay flow. Overall, Assembly Planter offers a very solid automation experience with clever ideas and a strong foundation. It may lack some polish, but the core mechanics are engaging enough to carry the experience. Fans of automation games will likely find plenty to enjoy here. The Good + Very solid core gameplay loop for fans of automation + Shrink mechanic is an excellent idea that enables many different setups through recursion + Unlocks require the right amount of grind to make it worth automating without demanding optimal setups + Loop warnings help prevent common automation mistakes + Recycling returns all spent resources, encouraging experimentation + Pleasant visual presentation + Game does not overstay its welcome + Achievements can be earned naturally through normal play + Not a single crash or performance problem, even when running AFK for hours with a demanding setup + No programming involved The Neutral * Feels like an early access title - strong foundation with rough edges and plenty of room to grow as a game The Bad - Deleting a recipe does not automatically recycle its outputs, leading to accidental resource loss - Copy-paste does not work with Ctrl+V and must be done through the context menu - Hotkeys remain active while typing in text fields - Some labels are too intrusive and make it harder to interact with the objects from wood to time machines 8 / 10 - IGN