As arguably the most beloved game in the automation genre, it’s no wonder that other developers with a vision for their own factory builders have taken inspiration from Satisfactory. Satisfactory stands out not just for its enjoyable automation mechanics, beautiful graphics, and lack of building constraints, but also for the beautiful alien world called MASSAGE-2(A-B)b. Now, a new Steam release called Main Sequence is picking up this baton, but trading an intricate planet for an expansive outer space setting.
For those who love the level of open-world freedom offered by Satisfactory, Main Sequence should prove to be right up their alley. Gamers will be able to create spaceships and stations, complex automation systems, and more. Best of all, they’ll be able to do so alongside their Steam friends. Again, like Satisfactory, the suited protagonists of the game will be able to team up with their fellow builders, with each player even starting with their own ship. As groups sink more and more time into the game, they’ll eventually go from having nothing but their starter ship to having everything they could ever ask for, emphasizing the most important trait of the genre: a deep feeling of progression.
Main Sequence Factory-Building & Automation Features
- PLAY Main Sequence on Steam Beginning November 12
- BUILD a space station to house your collection of spaceships.
- CONNECT machines and conveyor belts to create supply lines.
- FIGHT ancient alien defense forces using your fleet.
- CREATE freely in a separate create mode, savinf blueprints to share with friends.
- RESEARCH additional technology that allows for further exploration of the galaxy.
- PLAY with a group in co-op, dividing responsibilities to conquer the galaxy.
“Main Sequence is a first-person space-sim factory builder where you design spaceships, build space stations, and automate everything. Start with a single ship and grow to become an interstellar industrial empire as you leave your mark on the galaxy.”
Main Sequence’s Automation Mechanics Are a Sci-Fi Fan’s Dream Come True
Main Sequence’s premise is simple: players are tasked with “expanding humanity’s footsteps across the stars,” building the next great space colony up piece by piece. However, actually making that happen will be easier said than done. Players start with nothing but a single mining ship, needing to clear the surrounding asteroid belt of all its resources to begin building their ideal base of operations. Scanners will help them find the best areas to collect from, and they can start on factory-filled space stations from there.
Like with other automation games, players will essentially puzzle-solve their way to setups that run completely on their own. Machines will be designed and connected, conveyor belts will deliver supplies between stations, and a fleet of ships can be used to handle basic tasks while players put all their effort into expanding their bases. Players will control the layouts of literally everything they build, deciding cargo capacity, reactor placement, and weapon layouts. Said weapons will be useful when repelling alien defenses, which recognize the builder as a threat. And when players aren’t building or defending their outer space home, they’ll be able to explore.
Main Sequence players shouldn’t expect exploration like No Man’s Sky, as they’re restricted to the voids of space and their handcrafted stations as opposed to landing on alien planets. Still, developer Tumbling Dumbling Studio is striving to keep things interesting, featuring black holes and neutron stars randomly throughout each procedurally generated star system. NPC allies and factions will be stumbled across from time to time, and players can decide whether they want to help them. And for those that want no restraints, a creative mode will be available that’s focused purely on building.
Why Main Sequence’s Approach to Co-Op is a Brilliant Move
Main Sequence offers optional co-op like Satisfactory, and fortunately for those who play in groups, it was designed in a way that preserves the slow build from one mining ship to a multi-base empire. All players will start with their own simple mining ship, working together to create supply routes and design machines. They’ll have the freedom to split jobs individually, with “one handling logistics, another on defense, and another out exploring” listed as a possible pathway to working together. Additionally, gamers can save and share blueprints of their designs, making expansion as efficient as possible.
Main Sequence has a Steam demo available for download right now for gamers who want to give it a try, and come November 12, it’ll kick off a 1-2-year stint in Steam Early Access. The full version of the game is expected to make quality-of-life improvements, but more importantly, it will offer deeper customization and building options to allow for more varied bases. More ship types, production lines, world events, factions, and characters are all potential additions that could be made throughout this period. The goal is to create a well-rounded experience by the time Early Access comes to an end, but groups can still expect to enjoy all the core features as soon as Early Access begins, with “40 hours of content” available from the get-go.