Beautiful automation sandbox game Techtonica ramps up the story in 1.0 launch

Mixing the automation of Satisfactory and Factorio with Astroneer’s terraforming and a beautiful fantasy world, Techtonica 1.0 is here.

With the launch of Satisfactory 1.0 and Factorio Space Age, it’s a good time to be a fan of making intricate stacks of machinery that handle all your work for you. Joining the roster is Techtonica 1.0, which might be the prettiest automation sandbox game I’ve seen so far. Set in a beautiful, bioluminescent fantasy world, Techtonica combines the factory-building elements you love with large-scale world terraforming reminiscent of Astroneer and a mysterious narrative in the style of Subnautica, and you can jump in for cheap thanks to a generous Steam sale discount to celebrate its arrival out of early access.

Starting with the basics, you quickly begin to ramp up production as your journey through Techtonica gets underway. You’ll plant down all manner of equipment to harvest and process resources, gradually expanding your base into that satisfying network of humming industry. As you unlock more potent tools, you can start terraforming the world around you, perhaps one of the most fulfilling things to do in the best sandbox games.

Grab a black hole gun and obliterate full walls in a single swoop, or set up pump networks to drain entire deserts-worth of sand out to uncover the cavern networks underneath. The freedom to shape the very world around you is in your hands. The vibrant alien environments of Calyx are already seriously pretty, but the good news is that the machinery you build looks just as spectacular, awash with all manner of lights and colors.

More than a year in the making, the Techtonica 1.0 update is finally here, introducing a new desert biome, additional machines and production loops, a jetpack upgrade, and a wealth of player-requested quality-of-life upgrades. Above all, however, is the conclusion to the game’s mysterious narrative, which comes along with a restructuring of the world into 16 distinct levels, separated by a giant freight elevator, to help create more story-driven progression.

This change has split the player base slightly, with some concerned that it takes the new-look Techtonica away from the freeform sandbox of old. In a forum post, developer ‘eitan’ from Fire Hose Games reassures fans that this change was carefully considered. The new format, they explain, enhances the way the story plays out and also encourages players to build bases in more diverse locations rather than sticking to the safest and easiest regions.

“The first levels in particular do feel small, we get that,” eitan writes. “However, later on the levels really open up. We knew that there would be some blowback here but we felt it was worth making the change because of all the other benefits we would get. New players wouldn’t notice and would probably like it, and we hoped old players who have exhausted the content would enjoy the new challenge.”

Another factor was wanting to ensure that Techtonica stood out from genre behemoths such as Satisfactory and Factorio, and the more structured story is a key way to differentiate itself. “We really feel strongly that 1.0 is much more fun than the old versions,” eitan concludes. “We ask that you try out 1.0 and see how we like it. If you can’t get past this change then we’re sorry to have disappointed you.” For those who do feel that way, however, the previous, more open-ended version of the game is still accessible to play.

Techtonica 1.0 is out now on Steam, with a 34% launch discount available until Monday November 18. That means you can expect to pay $19.79 / £16.49 if you buy it now, or $29.99 / £24.99 once the sale period ends. Take a look here to discover it for yourself. With support for up to four-player co-op, you can even bring your friends along.

Alternatively, we’ve organized even more of the best management games into one place for your perusal, along with the best crafting games if you just love to build.

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