Industrialist Guide: Your four tools and what each one does
About
OverviewIndustrialist is a factory-building game where you mine resources, set up production lines, and sell goods to fund better technology. This guide covers the four tools, the early-game loop, how to grow your power and money, and what to do when you get stuck.
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Industrialist
Your four tools and what each one does
Summary
You start with four tools and you will use all of them from the very first minute. The Hammer lets you buy and place structures on your map. Wires connect power sources to machines so those machines can actually run. Pipes link Extractors to machinery so materials can flow between them. The Delete tool removes any structure you placed by mistake — double-click to delete — and while you do not get a money refund, the building itself is returned to you.
- Hammer
buys and places structures
- Wires
connects power sources to machines
- Pipes
connects Extractors to other machinery
- Delete
removes a structure on double-click, returns the building but not the money
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First production loop from scratch
Step
Your first goal is a working coal income. Two Coal Drills per Truck Depot is the recommended ratio to start. Solar Panels keep your machines powered before you have a real power source. Once this loop is running, money will come in at a rate that is reasonable for a beginner.
- Place a Truck Depot
this is where your goods will ship out from.
- Build Pipes
run them so they physically connect to the Truck Depot's input.
- Place two Solar Panels
these give you basic power to run your drills.
- Place Coal Drills
two per Truck Depot is the suggested amount.
- Connect with Wires
link the Solar Panels to the Coal Drills using the Wires tool.
- Connect with Pipes
link the Coal Drills to the Truck Depot using the Pipes tool.
Research and power upgrades
CheckResearch Points (RP) unlock new machinery, and you earn them by running a ResearchStation1. Once you have enough RP, open the Research Menu and start unlocking technologies. ResearchStation2 is far more efficient than ResearchStation1, so reaching it quickly matters. For power, research wind and coal options first, then move on to CompactCoalPowerPlant and WindTurbine2 when you need more output. Two WindTurbine1 units are roughly enough to start farming RP at a useful rate.
- ResearchStation1 is placed and connected to a power supply
- Research Menu is open and you have spent your first RP
- Wind and coal power technologies are researched for a stable supply
- ResearchStation2 is unlocked and replaced your ResearchStation1
- CompactCoalPowerPlant or WindTurbine2 is online when power demand grows
- Energy sources for mid-game (Boiler, Large Turbine, MV Poles) are queued in the Research Menu
Growing your money past coal
Tips
Coal farms are fine to start but they produce a moderate amount of pollution. Once you have enough money, delete them and move to cleaner, higher-value production. Copper Wire and Iron Coil factories are the recommended next step. Chairs are a strong income source through the early-to-mid part of the game. After that, Crankshafts and Gearboxes become the better money makers, though they need far more power than anything you built before — so get that power upgrade in first.
- Delete your coal farms once you can afford better alternatives, since they cause a moderate amount of pollution.
- Build Copper Wire or Iron Coil production as your first upgrade from coal income.
- Chairs are a reliable money source in the early-to-mid game.
- Upgrade to a Modular Diesel Engine, Large Diesel Engine, or Large Turbine before tackling Crankshaft or Gearbox production.
- Place Scrubbers once you have 150,000 money and a stable income to manage your pollution level.
Pollution and why it matters
Warn
Pollution builds up as your factories run and it can affect your gameplay including the money gained from selling products. Scrubbers remove pollution. Coal farms cause a moderate amount of pollution early on, which is one reason the guide suggests replacing them as soon as you can afford to.
When your factory stops making progress
Step
If money stops growing, walk through each machine and check that materials are actually flowing. A blockage anywhere in the pipe or wire network can freeze an entire production line. Power shortages show up as machines that simply stop running. Visiting another player's world to see how their factory is laid out is one of the most practical ways to get unstuck.
- Check machine status
confirm each machine is running and not sitting idle.
- Trace your Pipes
follow the path from Extractor to destination and look for any break.
- Check your Wires
a disconnected power line will shut down every machine on that branch.
Playing with friends
TipsIndustrialist has a steep learning curve and the game itself recommends playing with friends to share discoveries. Shared worlds let multiple players build factories together.
- Playing with a friend lets you share discoveries and learn complex systems together.
- The full game is free to play with no features locked behind payment, so anyone can join without a cost barrier.
Glossary
Glossary- RP (Research Points)
- The currency used to unlock new machines and technologies in the Research Menu, earned by running a ResearchStation.
- Truck Depot
- The structure that ships your finished goods out and generates money from sales.
- Extractor
- A machine that pulls raw resources from the ground, such as a Coal Drill.
- Scrubber
- A structure that reduces your factory's pollution level.
- Production line
- The full chain of machines, pipes, and wires that takes raw ore from the ground through processing and into a sold product.
- Pollution
- A buildup caused by running factories that can affect gameplay including money earned from selling goods if left unmanaged.
Common questions
FAQDo I lose my building if I delete it by mistake?
No — when you delete a structure you get the building back, but you do not get a money refund.
What should I do after my coal setup is running?
Research wind and coal power to stabilize your electricity, then move into Copper Wire or Iron Coil production for better income. Once you hit 150,000 money and have a reliable income stream, place Scrubbers to deal with pollution.
Can I play alone, or do I need friends?
You can play alone. The game does recommend playing with friends because the mechanics are complex, but nothing forces you into co-op.
Why do my machines keep stopping?
The two most common causes are a broken wire cutting off power and a pipe gap stopping material flow. Check each connection from your power source to your machines and from your Extractors through to your Truck Depot.
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