Kickstart your factory expansion in Nova Lands with these tips and tricks.
If you’re new to factory simulation games, or just need a few tips for Nova Lands, you’ve come to the right place. These Nova Lands tips and tricks will get you off to a flying start in the game.
At this point, it’s safe to say that factory simulation games are somewhat of a phenomenon. From the early days of management games like SimCity and The Sims, to the more recent indie hits such as Factorio and Oxygen Not Included, there’s something about building a bustling, self-sufficient community that really speaks to gamers. Nova Lands is the latest contender in this burgeoning genre, with charming visuals and an accessible approach to factory management, making it the perfect entry point for new players. Here’s our guide to getting started in Nova Lands, plus some tips for getting ahead.
How to get started in Nova Lands
There’s plenty to do in Nova Lands, but you can’t get very far without the basics. Your island is initially covered with stones, twigs, water balls, and ore deposits. Each of these resources serves a purpose in your production chain. For example, you need stones for construction, twigs for robots, and ore for the extractor. It’s important to note that these will respawn after a short time, so don’t worry too much about depleting them.
You’ll also notice plenty of unoccupied spaces on the island. Your first priority should be building at least one Oxygenator to trigger the respawn mechanic. This will allow your bots to roam the island and gather materials.
Next, use your extractor to harvest resources – indicated by a depleting health bar – to receive the item they’re attached to (stones, twigs, or ore). Break down space pods to receive rare resources, or use the crafting menu to produce them on demand.
Now you’re ready to get building in Nova Lands. Each resource you gather can be used for different purposes, and each building serves a unique purpose in your factory. For example, you can use stones to build Storage for items and robots, but you can also use it for construction. Experiment with your factory layout and learn how buildings function together to create the most efficient and effective factory for your needs.
Planning your factory layout
Proximity between buildings affects the efficiency of robots in completing chores. For example, if you want your bots to harvest ore, you must build an extractor nearby. Likewise, robots won’t visit a building that produces an item they don’t need.
Play around with the various building types and plan your layout in advance to ensure optimal gameplay flow and aesthetics. Be aware that the Research Processor won’t be available until you’ve built an Oxygenator, and the Construction Processor won’t be available until you’ve built an Extractor and Repair Depot. Plan ahead and save yourself the hassle of backtracking later on.
Now you can begin using your resources to construct various buildings, but what goes where? The answer to this question depends on your current needs and the technologies you’ve researched. The research menu allows you to unlock new crafting items and buildings. As you progress, you’ll have the option to upgrade or replace many of your existing items. The available upgrades are based on your current technology choices, so choose wisely.
Here are a few starter buildings and their uses:
Many buildings can be upgraded, but you must construct the Research Processor after the Oxygenator. You can then select a research technology to research before you start crafting. Choose upgrades based on your current needs and preferences. For example, if you want to automate a task, it makes sense to research automation technology first.
The exploration factor
Nova Lands is all about exploration, from discovering new resources to uncovering unique upgrades. Interact with every character you come across on the island to uncover quests, trading opportunities, and unique upgrades to your factory.
For example, you can upgrade the Robot Shelter to allow more robots to reside there, but there are no additional shelter spaces available in the village. The carpenter can build another shelter, but you’ll need to upgrade his workshop to allow him to do so.
