Factory building games have become increasingly common on platforms such as Steamwith plenty of indie studios hoping to be next Satisfactory or Factory. And while reaching the heights of these two titles is no easy task, getting the factory building and problem solving loop right – while doing something original – can be enough to make a splash. For players who want to enter the state of brand automation, but in a new sci-fi new environment, Steams Star mines will undoubtedly be worth a look. Plus, for anyone interested, the wait won't be long, as its Early Access debut is imminent.
Steam users can grab this 10/10 masterpiece for free on May 27th and keep it forever
Steam users will have the opportunity to add a 10/10 masterpiece to their game libraries completely free of charge on May 27th.
Starminer features at a glance
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BUILD your ideal interstellar factory, whether it's a few massive structures or lots of small ships.
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HARVESTING asteroids for materials to maintain and upgrade your automation system.
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TRAVEL sectors of space through link gates and discover new modules for research.
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SURVIVE aliens by building defenses to protect your fleet in simulated battles.
Design and build a massive interstellar fleet in this simulation sandbox. Clear the space on its minerals for profit, but be careful: your greed attracts the alien. Master deep base building and deploy warships to protect your empire in immersive real-time space.
Starminer takes full advantage of its outer space
Instead of just providing developer CoolAndGoodGames with a visually appealing backdrop of stars and planets, outer space can Star mines is an integral part of the game loop for this factory builder. Sure, all the basics are there – players design their ideal automation setup, balancing requirements like power, tonnage and size to maximize efficiency – but there are also some aspects of the game that are a bit more unique and exist solely because of the setting. Specifically, how materials are collected and the need to protect the floating factory players have gathered.
Scratch & Peek
Identify the wrapper while scraping off as little foil as possible.
Start
Identify the wrapper while scraping off as little foil as possible.
EasyMediumHardPermadeath
Starting with material gathering, players will gather the things they need from asteroids, the like No Man's Sky. Once the asteroids have been mined for their valuables, players will process the loot and choose to sell what they have received or use it to maintain their current build. Additionally, players can send a mercenary fleet on missions to acquire more materials, and when an entire sector of space feels like it's been completely drained of materials, players can set up some link gates. Through these portals, they can jump to and from new areas, mining them for their riches and expanding their supply of high-tech structures.
Unlike more relaxed factory builders on Steam, players aren't safe from all threats when troubleshooting. In addition to the usual management and reworking of assets, players must keep track of their heat build-up. If their building gets too big too quickly, a heat signature will appear for hostile aliens, who will close in and try to take everything the player has built. For those looking to design some massive factories, they need to plan ahead and prepare enough defenses, with turrets that fire back at any space invaders looking to wreak havoc.
Starminer's Early Access Launch is the first step on a longer journey
As is basically always the case with Early Access games on Steam, Star mines will have more content on the way than it currently does. Players can eventually expect more units, construction options, and improved mechanics shaped by player feedback (the price will also increase when the game fully launches to reflect these improvements). That said, although all content will be in-depth, Star mines still has a lot to offer in its original Early Access state. A tutorial, campaign, survival challenge mode and sandbox mode are all available, giving automation game lovers a couple of ways to play. Whether players like to watch simulated battles between warships and alien fleets, or just enjoy the experience of assembling modules piece by piece, Star mines have them covered.
