New automation sandbox game Alchemy Factory is basically a magical Satisfactory, and I can't stop looking at it

I love watching a well-engineered build chug along in Satisfactory or Factorio, but newcomer Alchemy Factory might have just stolen their thunder as my favorite in the format to watch in motion. Developer D5 Copperhead's magical spin on the familiar automation sandbox game structure casts you as an apprentice working behind the scenes at the local potion seller in a fantastical medieval town. Doing things by hand is so old-fashioned; instead, it's time to craft some of the most gloriously intricate automated layouts you've ever seen to make sure you're able to meet demand.

There's just something about the tightly woven, block-by-block intricacy of the production lines Alchemy Factory lets you build that really tickles my brain. You're able to invest in everything from potion making to metallurgy and jewelry crafting, and you'll need to set up each piece of the process. Start out with the basics of herb growing and grinding, essence extraction, distillation, transmutation, and so on. Then connect it up with conveyor belts for solids and pipelines for liquids, and get making your goods. Once you've done so, stock them on shelves and sell them to fund more supplies.

With the money rolling in and the products piling up, you're able to unlock additional construction tools, inventory capacity upgrades, fresh plots of land to expand into, and other helpful bonuses such as faster restock speed. Naturally, this is a magical realm, so as you progress deeper in you'll gain tricks like portal tech, which can teleport resources to avoid awkward conveyor tangles, or let you purchase raw materials remotely. There's also full multiplayer support (with no limit beyond "your network bandwidth and performance"), so bring some friends along to help.

The developer has made several key improvements from its previous demo version. New structural support calculations mean you'll need to plan your build more carefully, as you can no longer have floating platforms that stretch out forever. The upgrade system has been reworked, shelves that are inaccessible to customers will be clearly marked, custom keybinds are available, the base inventory size has been increased, there are new quick actions for copying and deleting, and multiplayer stability has been improved.

D5 Copperhead says it plans for the early access period to last approximately 6-12 months, although it might be extended "if we have more creative ideas or decide to rework certain gameplay systems." Among the extra features you can expect is a rail system, which will offer much higher transport capacity than the conveyor belts, along with allowing you to tour the factory in a train. The price is planned to rise as more additions and updates roll out, so if you like what you see, now's a good time to get on board.

Alchemy Factory is out now via Steam Early Access, priced at $16.19 / £13.49 until Thursday December 25 thanks to a 10% launch discount. Expect to pay $17.99 / £14.99 if you buy it after the sale ends. You can get it right here if you're eager to open up shop and start building your reputation as the most renowned alchemical magnate in town. Just don't get too mesmerized watching it all tick along and forget why you're there.