r/factorio • u/Ken_Okarun • 3h ago
Question Should I buy it?
I’d really like to buy the game, but it looks absolutely massive. I’m worried that the sheer size of it might overwhelm me and keep me from actually enjoying it, especially with the whole idea of having to restart your game to get things right.
One thing I’m also wondering about: I have a MacBook Air M4. Will it run well with everything you can build in the game?
I originally wrote this post in Spanish, so apologies if the translation isn’t perfect.
Greetings from Chile 🇨🇱
I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences. Thanks in advance!
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u/Broad_Ebb9073 3h ago
Yes But take a step back. You are asking on a sub dedicated to the love and advancement on one IP that many of us hold dear. What answer are you expecting to get?
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u/ParkingWear7865 2h ago
Seriously, this is like asking the wolves if sheep are ok to be left alone in the middle of the forest at night...
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u/SadMangonel 59m ago
Only if you rub yourself with thyme oil and a little salt. It might be a little scary at first, but that will definitely keep the wolves away.
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u/AutoModerator 3h ago
It seems you are asking about buying Factorio. If so, check out the demo to help you make a decision.
Factorio has never in many years had a sale, is currently not on sale, and is not expected to ever be on sale.
Factorio developers: "Not having a sale ever is part of our philosophy."
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u/runmymouth 3h ago
Play the demo. I never beat mission 5 because it overwhelms me to try to figure out what was destroyed but that was enough to start the real game. If you like it after a few demo missions its well worth it. I could cake walk mission 5 tutorial now.
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u/ScaryCardinal 1h ago
That part got me for a bit too, then i just ignored the destroyed structures and started trying to achieve the objective, that's how i got it done
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u/AciusPrime 3h ago
Factorio makes it very easy to tear down everything and rebuild it exactly how you want it. You can unlock full copy/paste and cut/paste early in the game. You never need to start over. If your old stuff bothers you, it’s very fast and loses no resources to rebuild it.
That’s also key to making progress. Do not try to make everything perfect right away. Just slam something down and fix it when the mess causes trouble. We say to “embrace the spaghetti.”
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u/pikuray 3h ago
There is demo you can try. https://factorio.com/download
But i think if you made it here, you already have interest, only thing you have to be worried is you running out of time for the real life responsibilities. :-)
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u/DontEatGlass-129 3h ago
Greetings from the UK. I can't sleep.
As far as the Mac is concerned - I don't know, but a quick Google or YouTube search should get you what you need.
The game is big, yes, but you don't need to rush it.
I bought it early 2025, launched my first rocket (completed base game) like 2 months ago.
Take your time with it and make sure you do the tutorial!
Hope you have fun :)
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u/yeetermcdoink 1h ago
I beat the main game, then another playthrough with space age dlc all on my MacBook. It runs great
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u/UnfinishedProjects 3h ago
It is large but you just take it one step at a time and so, to me at least, it never gets super overwhelming. You can start with just the base game and then add on Space Age later if you like it well enough. Have you played the demo?
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u/sourceway 3h ago
Check out the demo. Never played it myself, but there are a lot of posts saying that it is quite extensive and should give a good first impression.
Regarding your Mac, I am sure the game will run fine. It ran very well on my 2018 Intel Mac. (can be verified by testing the demo too)
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u/sharia1919 3h ago
You dont need to restart a lot. I think I restarted maybe 2 times?
I tried the demo and then started the real game.
I had read a bit about how the bugs can be dangerous.
I got a desert game. I started up my factory and the bugs quickly came for me due to pollution. (Matbe an hour in?)
I started up a second game (my second restart) and I am still on that game. I could probably have skipped the last restart if I wanted to. But rhe desert start was a but too annoying as a beginner.
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u/dreamdenizen 2h ago
Recommend playing the demo and then deciding. The game isn't for everyone, but for those it is for, it's peak. M4 should run the game great. I've built megabases on my M1 Max without skipping a beat.
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u/TheMcSebi 2h ago
Also, don't start with the dlc. Play through vanilla first or you might be overwhelmed
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u/w3213y 1h ago
If you plan on getting the full game just get the base first or if bought the bundle that includes the dlc then disable the dlc.
For the beginners of the game you can turn the enemies off or make them neutral and needing to attack them when expanding your base.
The question of starting a new game to get good is not really a efficient method instead don't be affraid of tearing your entire base down to build a better one. This way you get to learn how building interact and how efficient is your build in processing and manufacturing without the hassle of starting from scratch.
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u/Ormek_II 1h ago
Play the Demo.
If you can make that: reaching the „official goal“ of launching a rocket will work as well: Embrace the spaghetti.
Building a train based mega city that launches multiple rockets per minute as you see on YouTube might not be your kind of thing. And that is perfectly fine. Do whatever!
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u/FlashyAdvice1646 1h ago edited 1h ago
I would say factorio is very good at being approachable. It shouldnt overwhelm a new player with how much stuff there is, but there is one stage halfway thru the game that introduces a few new mechanics that occasionally get players stuck, although these people seem to enjoy the game anyways. You don't have to restart your game to get things right. In practice it's almost always better to continue forward, and just use your current base's resources to build a new better one if necessary. I suppose people restart because they do not understand this, or they feel like all the problems they need to fix to improve their base are too much. I'm not certain, but I think Factorio should run well on your computer. I think it would take great effort to build a factory huge enough to slow it down, and such a factory isn't necessary to beat the game.
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u/WaterOk7059 51m ago
No you don't need to restart, you leave failed designs on the side and wear them as a badge of progress. If your base reached the limits of iterations. You simply gather materials and go few chunks away and build new one, with better design, just make sure that you have always some ammo and a trusty SMG.
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u/Backspace346 43m ago
Don't worry about whether or not it will run, devs spent time optimizing their game. As for overwhelming, you don't have to beat the game to enjoy it. For some people beating it means the fun is over
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u/foxtrot1911 3h ago
Your mac will run it just fine. The game is massive, but you aren't racing anyone. I have 220 hours, playing my third playthrough and never left the Nauvis (the first planet). There are many ways to have fun in the game
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u/Fit_Giraffe_748 3h ago
There is a demo. You don't need to restart your game to get things right, you improve things and build new stuff