What I’m looking for can really be described as one of the following:

  • Opus Magnum but the reason to optimize is so that I save resources and generate resources faster?
  • Factorio but I can’t expand infinitely and have to instead make the factory more efficient rather than just growing exponentially?
  • Compact Claustrophobia but without an infinite number of compact machines?
  • Last Clockwinder but with a much greater focus on planning and less on execution?
  • BandoCalrissian@lemm.eeEnglish
    20·
    1 year ago

    I think Satisfactory hits a few of these targets, if you haven’t already tried it. The amount of resources is determined by a map that is not procedurally generated, so there is a hard cap to your resources per minute, though the resources never run out. So end game focuses more on playing efficiently rather than brute expansion.

  • cholesterol@lemmy.wtfEnglish
    9·
    1 year ago

    Factorio but I can’t expand infinitely

    This can be done with an island map. You can download an infinite resources mod so your patches never run out.

  • Mcduckdeluxe@reddthat.comEnglish
    4·
    1 year ago

    Check out SpaceChem, matches most of your bullet points. It’s a level-based puzzle game like Opus Magnum though.

    • simple@lemm.eeEnglish
      4·
      1 year ago

      I second this, it’s what OP is asking for. Word of warning though: this game is hard as hell. It reached a point where I’d spend 2 hours on a level, realize I messed up and can’t salvage this, and gave up. I never got really far.

  • Alteon@lemmy.worldEnglish
    4·
    1 year ago

    Maybe Techtonica? It just came out on Gamepass. It’s like Satisfactory but in a cave and you can’t just build anywhere… honestly, it’s just another factory game though.

    You play Dyson Sphere Program yet? It’ll scratch a lot of itches. Riftbreaker was pretty fun as well. A little meh at the higher levels though.

    • WillRegex@lemm.eeOPEnglish
      2·
      1 year ago

      Shapez looks like it has the same problem as factorio, where expanding outwards is always possible and easier than micro-optimizations. That’s not the kind of gameplay I’m looking for.