“Some people like it, some people are annoyed by it”: Substructure may look like Factorio, but it changes the automation game in some fundamental ways
Substructure is an automation game that draws heavy inspiration from titles like Factorio but introduces fundamental changes to the genre. Players begin by crash-landing on an alien world with limited tools and must use their UI interface and tech tree schematics to construct increasingly complex factories that extract planetary resources and transform them into useful materials and components.
The game expands beyond traditional surface-level automation gameplay by allowing players to venture underground. By constructing drilling equipment and elevators, players can excavate through the topsoil and explore vast cavern systems beneath the alien world’s surface, expanding the scope of industrial operations in new directions.
According to coverage, the game has proven divisive among players—some appreciate its design innovations, while others find certain aspects frustrating. The developer has acknowledged mixed reactions, with players falling into distinct camps regarding how the title reimagines the automation genre.