There is an itch that most games aren’t designed to scratch – an itch that takes the form of processing lines, just-in-time stages, and the ingenious shortcutting of routines and interactions. For Readwrite’s Paul McNally, Automate It, the handcrafted level-based puzzle sim from developer South Blue Moon and publisher Forklift Interactive, provides a satisfactory satiation for his puzzle-solving needs.
Said McNally:
A quick watch of the trailer shows it should definitely scratch some Satisfactory itches although it seems to focus in totally on the automation/construction side of things with perhaps less of the story. While graphically not as polished (as yet at least) as Satisfactory it still looks great and fans of this year’s PC Game of the Year will definitely be able to appreciate the mechanics on show.
The goal is simple, even if the process isn’t: create an efficient and optimized factory to reach production goals. Struggle against space, power, and time constraints to get the job done while keep the conveyor belt spaghetti tamed in the process. The pipes, presses, and production machines available to aspiring engineers allow for a wide range of creative and expressive strategies. Meanwhile, evolving landscapes ranging from valleys to cliffsides that demand the use of elevators and scaffolding, makes the process of transporting unrefined ore from Point A to the forges in Point B, and finally to the delivery station in Point C, delightfully complex.
Of course, the work doesn’t end just because system engineers finished off all of the developer-made challenges. Automate It includes the ability to design and share user-made puzzles and maps, as well as randomized maps and objectives, allowing indefinite continuation of the test of wits… or to confound puzzle-solving peers with nefariously tricky scenarios.
Read the full article here. Automate It is currently undergoing community playtests, and will launch on PC via Steam and Epic Games later in 2025. Wishlist it on Steam, visit its website to learn more, and follow South Blue Moon and Forklift Interactive on X/Twitter to keep up to date with its developments.
