This game is an experience, from the stunning alien landscapes to the immersive music and engrossing gameplay cycle. As you can see, this game has sucked up over 400 hours of my life at the time of writing this review… So yeah, I really like it. If you just want an excuse to buy it, let this be it! It’s an easy 10/10 for me.

To get more into the undergrowth of this wonderful alien world, let’s have a look at the two core aspects of what, to me, makes this game truly wonderful to play.

The first thing to know about Satisfactory is that you will need to start your factory from scratch multiple times, either due to new ideas for factory design or because the latest update has broken your carefully designed factory floor. This is where Satisfactory really shines for me, I *want* to restart and do it all again. I love the experience of stepping into that alien yet also cosy and familiar world, starting fresh as a pioneer with everything I’ve learned from previous saves in my toolkit. In this aspect, this game is almost a rouge-like… I love going back and just starting again, it’s an experience that doesn't grow old, not yet anyway.

The second thing to know about Satisfactory is that it is always changing. As of the writing of this review we are a few weeks away from the release of Update 6, or V0.6. This game is in “early access”, with each update moving us closer to V1.0, or the full release. With each update the team at Coffee Stain refine the experience, they make tweaks and often introduce veritable mountains of content. I am usually very hesitant about playing games in early access, because that usually translates to “not finished, we need free bug hunters”. This is not the case with Satisfactory, the game feels more finished than some AAA releases. You would be forgiven for assuming that each update was an expansion on the base game, but this isn’t the case. I’m not really sure how they’ve done it, but the team behind Satisfactory has managed to make the early access experience something to enjoy.

Aside from these aspects, there’s also an incredible dynamic world for you to explore and exploit, filled with stunning vistas and a biosphere that feels truly alive. As someone who has studied and worked as a research ecologist, I adore this world, it feels real. Then there’s the sound design, which is immersive and wonderful.

Sure, this game has some issues… There are some frustrating aspects, some of the stages in automation feel a little tedious and redundant. There’s also a fair share of bugs, which is to be expected given the game is still in early access. I also find the jetpack very frustrating, I’ve died far too many times when it ran out of fuel a handful of metres away from my target.

Looking at this game as a whole package, it’s an instant classic. I’ve just wrapped up a hundred and fifty hour save and I’m going to start again when Update 6 releases, and you know what… I can’t wait to spend hundreds more hours doing it all again. Which honestly is the most glowing review I can give.

Satisfactory, the game that pulls you back in again and again. 10/10.