Scrap Mechanic

Developer: Axolot Games
Release: Jan 19th 2016
Platforms:
Action
Adventure
Indie
Simulation
Early Access
Creative
Addictive
Multiplayer
Buggy
Abandoned
Scrap Mechanic Poster

" Creative multiplayer survival sandbox with robust building tools but repetitive survival mode "

Scrap Mechanic Review

Scrap Mechanic is a sandbox game that excels in fostering creativity through its robust building mechanics and physics engine. Players can construct a wide range of contraptions, vehicles, and machines using diverse parts, making the creative mode highly engaging. The survival mode adds an extra layer of challenge with resource management and hostile AI, although it is often described as repetitive and underdeveloped.

Visually, the game features colorful, cartoonish graphics that complement its playful tone. Multiplayer functionality enhances the experience by allowing cooperative building and exploration. However, a significant portion of the community expresses concern over the game's prolonged early access state, lack of major updates, and communication silence from the developers. Bugs, glitches, and AI issues in survival mode also detract from the overall experience. Despite these drawbacks, the game remains beloved for its imaginative potential and fun building mechanics, with many players eagerly awaiting future content and improvements.

Highlights

Players praise Scrap Mechanic for its innovative and versatile building system and physics-driven gameplay that allows for complex and creative machines. The colorful, stylized graphics and whimsical sound design enhance the playful atmosphere. Multiplayer mode is highly valued for cooperative creativity and shared fun. The game’s sandbox nature and extensive mod support further expand its replayability and community engagement.

Criticisms

Common criticisms include the lack of meaningful updates and content additions, particularly in survival mode, which many find repetitive and lacking depth. Players report bugs, AI glitches, and physics inconsistencies that hinder gameplay, especially in combat and automation. The developers’ long silence and slow progress toward a full release frustrate the community. Additionally, the game can be overwhelming for new players due to poor tutorials and a steep learning curve.

Pros

  • Robust building mechanics enable highly creative and complex constructions.
  • Physics engine makes machines feel dynamic and unique.
  • Colorful, cartoonish graphics complement the playful tone.
  • Multiplayer mode enhances fun through cooperative building.
  • Extensive mod support provides additional content and variety.
  • Creative mode offers unlimited resources and freedom.
  • Sound design and music fit the whimsical atmosphere well.

Cons

  • Survival mode is repetitive and lacks engaging progression.
  • Frequent bugs and AI glitches disrupt gameplay experience.
  • Long early access period with few major updates.
  • Developers’ communication and update frequency are poor.
  • Steep learning curve without sufficient tutorials.
  • Performance issues on less powerful hardware reported.
  • AI combat can be frustrating and unbalanced.

Rating Criteria

Story
Difficulty
Graphics
Duration
Stability
Worth the Price
Capsule image

Enter the creative paradise of Scrap Mechanic! Build fantastic machines, go on adventures with your friends and defend against waves of evil Farmbots in this imaginative multiplayer survival sandbox. With Scrap Mechanic’s powerful creation tools you can engineer your own adventures!

Release Date Jan 19th 2016
Publisher Axolot Games
Developer Axolot Games
Platforms

User Reviews

Very Positive (44,749)
92% Positive 8% Negative