I like both. Factorio certainly has a lot more depth to it, but Mindustry feels more streamlined. Less focus on the minutia of optimizing the factory and logistics, and more on getting everything set up as quickly as possible so you don't get overwhelmed by waves of enemies.
For Factorio players, here are the biggest differences:
1. No inventory. All structures get automatically crafted as they are built and the resources taken from your central storage core.
2. No inserters. Structures that output resources output them directly into adjacent belts or other structures. This simplifies construction and can allow for amazingly compact designs if you put sufficient thought into them, but can also lead to accidentally mixing the wrong items into your belts and clogging up your production lines if you're not careful.
3. You have blueprints and the equivalent of construction bots right from the start of the game. In singleplayer, it is normal and expected that players will pause the game, queue up a bunch of things to be built, then unpause and let their ship handle the construction automatically.
4. Belts are streamlined and much faster work with. 1 lane per belt, and the UI for constructing belts includes a pathfinding algorithm allows you to easily construct a belt between two points in seconds provided you have enough resources on-hand. Crossing two belts automatically creates an intersection so resources don't mix.
5. More focus on combat. Lots of different turret options, each with their own specializations, logistical requirements, and types of enemies they are good against. The PVP and attack modes are also quite fun.
6. More arcadey. Unlike with Factorio, you aren't expected to keep growing and expanding your factory forever. There is limited space and sooner or later you're either going get overwhelmed, or retreat back into space with the resources you collected. You can finish most stages in an hour or two.
> You have blueprints and the equivalent of construction bots right from the start of the game. In singleplayer, it is normal and expected that players will pause the game, queue up a bunch of things to be built, then unpause and let their ship handle the construction automatically.
> Belts are streamlined and much faster work with. 1 lane per belt, and the UI for constructing belts includes a pathfinding algorithm allows you to easily construct a belt between two points in seconds provided you have enough resources on-hand. Crossing two belts automatically creates an intersection so resources don't mix.
Blueprints, belt pathfinding, and automatic intersections did not exist 11 months ago when I played it.
Thanks for letting me know, because that makes a huge difference. I'll give it another shot some time.
For Factorio players, here are the biggest differences:
1. No inventory. All structures get automatically crafted as they are built and the resources taken from your central storage core.
2. No inserters. Structures that output resources output them directly into adjacent belts or other structures. This simplifies construction and can allow for amazingly compact designs if you put sufficient thought into them, but can also lead to accidentally mixing the wrong items into your belts and clogging up your production lines if you're not careful.
3. You have blueprints and the equivalent of construction bots right from the start of the game. In singleplayer, it is normal and expected that players will pause the game, queue up a bunch of things to be built, then unpause and let their ship handle the construction automatically.
4. Belts are streamlined and much faster work with. 1 lane per belt, and the UI for constructing belts includes a pathfinding algorithm allows you to easily construct a belt between two points in seconds provided you have enough resources on-hand. Crossing two belts automatically creates an intersection so resources don't mix.
5. More focus on combat. Lots of different turret options, each with their own specializations, logistical requirements, and types of enemies they are good against. The PVP and attack modes are also quite fun.
6. More arcadey. Unlike with Factorio, you aren't expected to keep growing and expanding your factory forever. There is limited space and sooner or later you're either going get overwhelmed, or retreat back into space with the resources you collected. You can finish most stages in an hour or two.