Software:Mindustry

Gameplay

thumb|A schematic-heavy build on a "Hexed"-style Serpulo PvP map Mindustry is a top-down two-dimensional grid-based game, in which players assume the role of a small construction ship deployed from a central structure (the "core"). The basic elements of gameplay are resource extraction, transportation and organization, manufacturing of advanced materials and processing facilities, construction and maintenance of defensive and offensive structures, production of fighting units, and research of superior technologies.

The central goal of gameplay is for the player to avoid having their core(s) destroyed. All player structures are rebuildable upon destruction (with cores needing to be built atop dedicated "Core zones" equal to or greater than the size of the core that is built), with the destruction of all active core(s) resulting in immediate loss. On "survival" maps, enemies are dispatched in waves of progressively stronger units that must be destroyed before they reach and destroy all active core(s), similar to a tower defense game, as enemy pathfinding automatically seeks out poorly-defended areas or openings to break through. In contrast, "attack" maps have (in addition to waves of units) enemy structures and core(s) which must be destroyed to win.

The game contains two planets, Serpulo and Erekir, which have different materials, structures, units and gameplay. Serpulo has 16 materials, 131 buildable blocks (including 18 defense turrets), and 35 manufacturable units (five units of each type; there are three types of ground units, two air and two naval). Erekir has 10 materials, 98 blocks (including 10 turrets), and 15 units (5 of each of tanks, mechs, and ships). On Serpulo, "logic blocks" provide an assembly-like language for controlling units and buildings. On both planets, it is possible to save and reuse "schematics", blueprints consisting of arbitrary blocks in specific arrangements.

The primary single-player game mode is the campaign, in which players are tasked with conquering a planet by capturing a sequence of regions (known as "sectors" within the game), including both "survival" and "attack" maps. After a region is captured, it can be used to build more production capabilities and export materials to other regions. Apart from the campaign, there is an editor and sandbox mode, and custom maps are made by players.

On multiplayer servers, there are cooperative servers (in which all players share a team and attempt to defeat computer-controlled enemies), as well as team and free-for-all PvP servers.

Release and reception

Mindustry was created in April 2017, for the itch.io "Metal Monstrosity" game jam, where it was ranked first among 15 entries.