Autonauts

Autonauts is a simulation game with a base building-theme inspired by Factorio, Animal Crossing and the Pikmin series. The title is the new project of Denki Games. The game was created by a team led by Gary Penn, who was involved in the development of Grand Theft Auto and Lemmings as creative director at DMA Design (later Rockstar North). Curve Digital, the publisher of Bomber Crew and Narcos: Rise of the Cartels, is responsible for releasing the title on Steam. For the previous two years the developer had been releasing successive versions of his work on itch.io.

Mechanics

Autonauts is based on a similar formula as Satisfactory or Oxygen Not Included. The game begins with choosing a procedurally-generated planet. After hitting the surface, we obtain resources, construct the first buildings and create the simplest tools. With time, we can create robot-staff, whom we can teach to perform various tasks. This requires them to be given the appropriate commands using a visual programming language, which manifests itself as the game's lightly educational aspect, like in Rabbids Coding.

The gameplay is slow and does not introduce any threats to our colony. Thanks to that, we can focus on automation of subsequent activities and experimenting with seemingly simple, but complex gameplay. In the meantime, we will have to take care of the needs of other living inhabitants, who at some point will start to appear in our colony.

Game modes

Autonauts offers only sandbox gameplay for one player, without a story campaign or multiplayer mode.

Technical aspects

Denki Games used simple three-dimensional graphics of low poly type. Visually, Autonauts brings to mind bricks for children, with a cartoonish environment and characters that emphasize the relaxing character of the game. This is also what the game's calm soundtrack, which evokes loose associations with Animal Crossing, is all about.

Last updated on May 30, 2020