Factory Planner
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About Factory Planner
Factory Planner is a strategy sim where you build factories using a card-based system. Designed by Lebleby Games and published by Red Axe Games, it launched January 19, 2026, as a PC-only single-player title. The core idea is simple: arrange cards to create production lines, balancing efficiency and creativity. Each card represents a machine or resource, and the goal is to chain them into functional factories. The game leans into sandbox play, encouraging experimentation with different layouts and combinations. It’s not about rigid optimization but exploring how cards interact to solve problems in your own way. If you like tinkering with systems and seeing how small changes ripple through a process, this is your niche.
Gameplay
You start with a hand of cards, each representing a factory component like conveyors, assemblers, or raw materials. The challenge is placing them in a grid to create a working production chain. For example, a mining card might feed into a smelting card, which connects to an assembler. Every session feels like a puzzle, figuring out how to route resources without bottlenecks or wasted space. The game emphasizes iteration: break a link, rearrange, test again. There’s no time pressure, so you can tinker for hours. Later, you unlock specialized cards that add complexity, like automation or storage. The real meat is in the combos: a single tweak can turn a slow, clunky layout into a sleek, efficient machine.
What Players Think
With a 78% completion rate among players who finish, the game holds a 4.2/5 rating on PlayPile. Average playtime is 14 hours, though 35% of players report logging over 20. Community moods lean toward curiosity and satisfaction, with praise for the card system’s flexibility. One review notes, “Feeling like a real engineer trying to crack the puzzle.” However, 12% of reviews flag the lack of tutorials, calling the early-game “opaque.” Achievement data shows 62% of players hit the “First Factory Loop” milestone within 2 hours, but only 23% complete the “Master Architect” challenge, which requires a zero-waste layout.
PlayPile's Take
Factory Planner is a niche win for sim fans who enjoy methodical problem-solving. At $29.99, it’s a low-risk pick for its sandbox creativity, though the learning curve might frustrate newcomers. The 168 achievements add long-term incentive, especially for those chasing mastery. If you’re into building systems and refining them bit by bit, this is a solid 20-hour investment. Skip it if you prefer fast-paced action or clear-cut objectives.
Game Modes
Single player
Achievements
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