Factory Planner: First Sparks

Factory Planner: First Sparks

Released Oct 2025

Factory Planner: First Sparks is a card-based simulation and strategy game. In this Prologue version, build your own factory using strategic card combinations and enjoy a unique sandbox experience.

80% positive · 122 reviews
Not yet
Released, but content still planned
Medium confidence
Content Planned
Not yet
Released, but content still planned
Medium confidence
Content Planned

Where to get it

Free on Steam

Evaluation

Factory Planner: First Sparks launched as a free Prologue on October 10, 2025. The short store description explicitly labels it a "Prologue version," making clear it represents only a portion of the intended full game experience. At launch, the developer invited players to wishlist the full version, describing it as already in development. On November 25, 2025, the developer posted a Steam Awards nomination announcement confirming that an Early Access version of the full Factory Planner game is actively in preparation — promising richer automation chains, new production modules, and extended systems, all informed by player feedback from this Prologue. No subsequent posts have walked back or contradicted this commitment. While developer communication has been quiet since November 25, 2025 (roughly ten months ago as of today), the outstanding commitment to a full Early Access release — explicitly stated by the developer — means content beyond this Prologue remains planned.
Evidence
Developer confirms Early Access version is in preparation, with richer automation chains, new production modules, and extended systems planned beyond the Prologue.
news post · Nov 25, 2025 source content planned
high
Short description explicitly labels this a 'Prologue version,' indicating the full game experience is yet to come.
store metadata · Oct 10, 2025 source content planned
high

Media

Details

Developer
Publisher
Red Axe Games
Achievements
—
Platform
Windows
Controller
—
Steam Deck
Not rated
Players
Single-player

About this game

Factory Planner is a strategy and simulation card-based game. Players combine various cards to build their factories from the ground up, efficiently manage resources, and optimize production processes. Each card plays a different role in factory management: collecting resources, producing goods, managing electricity, or speeding up processes. With careful planning and strategic card combinations, you can overcome challenges with your engineers and build an industrial empire!

The game isn't limited to production; it also offers a vast sandbox structure that allows players to progress in unique ways. Whether you focus on building an efficient automation system or experiment with different production chains, you will discover new paths in the game world. Every choice you make shapes the future of your factory and creates new strategic opportunities.

In a system powered by Facility, Organization, Engineer, and Resource cards, you connect cards to create functional production lines. Each card has different functions and connection points, allowing for strategic decision-making.

Managing the connections between solid and liquid materials, as well as electricity, plays a critical role in maintaining the correct flow. Incorrect connections can halt your entire production line. Connections are drawn at 90-degree angles, can be broken, rearranged, and dynamically integrated into your system.

Assigning Engineer cards to production and storage units can increase efficiency, unlock new recipes, or reduce energy consumption. Each assignment directly impacts your factory's operations, and undoing an assignment will change the system as well.

Energy is at the heart of your factory. Electricity generated from thermal generators is distributed to machines. If production units lack enough power, production stops, and the system goes into a red alert. Use Splitter and Merger cards to manage and direct the flow of energy more efficiently.

Warehouses have a specific capacity. If material transfer isn't managed properly, the system may lock up. Correct transfer speeds are crucial for efficient production.

Develop and upgrade your existing cards to create more complex and powerful systems. Through the Craft system, you can produce new cards at every level to grow your factory's capabilities.

Get real-time information on the status of your factory: active cards, engineers, production speed, and energy levels. Also, issues like warehouse capacity, material shortages, or electrical failures are quickly reported and guide you toward solutions.

You start with basic resources like wood and iron. Over time, you’ll work with more advanced materials like sulfur and uranium, eventually building more complex factories in the nuclear era.

Factory Planner is a game that challenges you to think strategically, plan carefully, and manage your systems effectively. Combine cards strategically to build your factories, manage resources efficiently, and transform a small workshop into a massive industrial complex. Let production flow, and let the system run smoothly!

Key Features

  • Card-Based Building System

  • Facility, Organization, Engineer and Resource Cards

  • Solid and Liquid Material Flow with Power Management

  • Engineer Assignments to Boost Efficiency

  • Energy Management and Distribution

  • Storage Capacity and Material Flow Control

  • Card Upgrades and Crafting System

  • Real-Time Factory Status Monitoring

  • Resource Variety: From Wood and Iron to Uranium

  • No Enemies – Purely Production-Focused Experience

Last evaluated Sep 17, 2026
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