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Redirect Loop — How to Play

This guide explains the complete first playthrough. The main walkthrough avoids the final story reveal; the last section contains timing spoilers.

Your goal

Build one powered iron-production line, deliver four Metal Plates to the Foundry Compact, and observe Meridian Research's response. The objective line at the bottom of the screen guides the same sequence and can be hidden or restored with G.

Essential controls

Action Keyboard / mouse
Choose an opening-menu item Arrow keys or W/S, then Enter; or click it
Move the camera W, A, S, D or arrow keys
Drag the camera Hold the middle mouse button and drag
Select a tile or building Left-click it
Open or close the build menu B
Choose a build item With the build menu open, press 1–6 or click its icon
Place the selected item Left-click a valid green preview
Rotate a Conveyor clockwise R
Rotate a Conveyor counterclockwise Shift+R
Cancel the current item Escape once or right-click
Close the build menu Cancel the item, then press Escape again
Pause Space
Normal / double speed With the build menu closed, press 1 / 2
Accept the Foundry contract Select a Foundry building, then press T
Show or hide objectives G
Open audio/accessibility options O

The options screen uses 1 for music volume, 2 for effects volume, 3 for reduced flash, and 4 for reduced motion.

The reliable factory layout

The Extractor, Smelter, Storage, and Trade Station are each 2 × 2 tiles. Keep them on the same horizontal line, leave one empty tile between each building, and use an east-facing Conveyor in every gap. The Conveyor belongs beside the buildings' lower row.

IRON DEPOSIT                                      AFTER CONTRACT

[ EXTRACTOR ]  >  [  SMELTER  ]  >  [  STORAGE  ]  >  [ TRADE STATION ]
     Ore              Plates             Plates           4-Plate cargo

                  All > Conveyors point EAST

Buildings do not rotate. Their item ports are fixed. Temporary port markers appear while placing a Conveyor or selecting a machine.

Step-by-step walkthrough

1. Start the world

Choose NEW GAME. You begin with a Headquarters, one visible iron deposit, and enough construction supplies for the intended route.

For a comfortable first attempt, stay at 1× while placing buildings. Switch to 2× after the line is connected if you want production and faction events to arrive faster.

2. Build power

  1. Press B.
  2. Choose the Biomass Generator with 1.
  3. Place it on any clear ground near the player area.

The Generator needs no cables and no fuel deliveries. It supplies exactly four power: enough for one Extractor and one Smelter.

3. Place the Iron Extractor

  1. Open the build menu with B.
  2. Choose the Iron Extractor with 2.
  3. Place its 2 × 2 footprint over the marked iron deposit.

It will begin producing Ore once powered, but the Ore remains inside the Extractor until a correctly placed Conveyor can take it.

4. Add the Smelter

  1. Choose the Smelter with build-menu shortcut 3.
  2. Place it east of the Extractor.
  3. Leave a one-tile gap between the two buildings and align their lower rows.
  4. Choose a Conveyor with build-menu shortcut 5.
  5. Place it in the gap beside the lower row, pointing EAST.

A fresh Conveyor-placement session begins facing east, so rotation is usually unnecessary for this route. The Smelter consumes two Ore and produces one Metal Plate.

5. Add Storage

  1. Choose Storage with build-menu shortcut 4.
  2. Place it east of the Smelter, again leaving a one-tile gap and matching the lower row.
  3. Place another east-facing Conveyor in that gap.

Your complete production route is now:

Extractor → Conveyor → Smelter → Conveyor → Storage

Click each building to inspect it. The Extractor should show RUNNING, the Smelter will alternate between waiting and processing, and Storage will begin receiving Metal Plates. Brief waiting states are normal while Ore or Plates travel.

6. Wait for the Foundry offer

The orange Foundry settlement expands automatically in the upper-right region. At approximately 04:00, after its own production requirement is satisfied, it broadcasts FOUNDRY_TRADE_READY.

When the offer appears:

  1. Left-click any Foundry-owned building.
  2. Confirm that the HUD shows 4 PLT > 2 CIR +1.
  3. Press T, or click T ACCEPT CONTRACT in the lower HUD.

Accepting the offer unlocks exactly one Trade Station. It does not immediately take any Plates.

7. Deliver four Metal Plates

  1. Open the build menu.
  2. Choose the newly unlocked Trade Station with 6.
  3. Place it east of Storage, leaving a one-tile gap and aligning the lower row.
  4. Put one east-facing Conveyor in the gap from Storage to the Trade Station.

Storage will now send physical Metal Plates into the station. At 4/4 PLT, the cargo dispatches automatically. The transfer packet takes 30 simulation ticks to arrive.

The one-time reward is:

  • 2 Circuits
  • +1 Foundry standing

Extra Plates remain in Storage and are not consumed.

8. Observe Meridian

Meridian's tall blue sensor is near the top-center of the region. Its response is automatic after the successful trade and occurs no earlier than 06:00.

Select the sensor to inspect MONITORING or UNUSUAL READING. No additional Research command is required.

9. Continue operations

Once Meridian detects the unusual return, keep the factory running and observe the world. The remaining sequence is automatic.

Common problems

Items are not moving

  • Make sure the Conveyor points toward the receiving building. The simple horizontal route uses EAST everywhere.
  • Put the Conveyor beside the lower row of the 2 × 2 building, where the port marker appears.
  • A machine cannot pass an item directly to another machine; a Conveyor must occupy the one-tile gap.
  • Click the Conveyor. INVALID OUTPUT usually means its direction or port alignment is wrong.

A machine is unpowered

  • Build the Biomass Generator first.
  • One Generator supplies exactly the Extractor and Smelter required by this walkthrough.
  • Power is automatic; there are no wires to place.

The Trade Station is unavailable

Wait for FOUNDRY_TRADE_READY, select a Foundry building, and press T. The station cannot be built before the contract is accepted.

The build shortcuts change game speed

Number keys select buildings only while the build menu is open. With the menu closed, 1 and 2 control simulation speed.

I spent too many Metal Plates

There is no demolition, refund, or undo system. The starting wallet safely funds the intended buildings and up to eight Conveyors, but unnecessary belts can exhaust it. Open the pause menu with Space and choose RESTART NEW GAME if necessary.

The HUD resource numbers do not increase while machines run

This is intentional. The main counters are construction supplies. Produced Ore and Plates live inside machines, Conveyors, Storage, and Trade Station cargo; select those objects to inspect their local inventories.

Story timing — spoilers

The first release is one fixed tragic playthrough. The catastrophe cannot be prevented.

Time Event
07:00 Sensor pulse
07:15 Sky shift
07:30 Shadow pass
07:45 Signal breakup
07:46 Asteroid becomes visible
07:52 Impact; gameplay freezes
07:53 Ending screen

Press Enter on the ending screen to begin a completely clean new game. No resources, structures, standing, contract state, or story knowledge carry over.