Stormworks: Build & Rescue

Description

Stormworks Steam Page Icon

Stormworks: Build and Rescue is a physics based sandbox game developed by company Geometa. The game uses a voxel low-poly style for terrain as well as a block-based building style for player vehicles. It was first developed and made available for Early Access in February of 2018 and left Early Access on September 17th 2020.

Stormworks is available on both Windows and macOS and is available to play both single player and multiplayer.

Gameplay

Vehicle Builder Example

Stormworks Gameplay surrounds the construction of (but not limited to) vehicles. There are thriving communities who develop everything from Submarines, Work Boats, War ships, Tanks, Race Cars, Classic Cars, Planes, Passenger Jets, Fighter Jets and so much more. You make your creations in the Vehicle Workbench where you select parts from the menu to build your craft in whatever shape desired. There are some unique features such as the Logic system where you can create dedicated PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) nicknamed "Micro Controllers" in game. Within these Micro Controllers you can use various logic gates, as well as limited Lua boxes to allow your vehicle to execute hyper specific tasks. Boats float, planes fly, cars drive, all vehicles that you build can function in the world (however the level of functionality is determined by the skill level of the user).

In-world Tasks and Opportunity

Once a vehicle has been constructed, it can be spawned into the world at the Vehicle Workbench (of which there are variety of sizes and shapes, some on land and some in the sea, some on tracks and some in runway hangers; please see Workbenches page for more information) and can be used by the Player in anyway they see fit, there are various objectives in vanilla Stormworks including attempting Search and Rescue missions wherein a collection of NPCs have spawned with a damage or on fire vessel whether it be a car, boat or crashed plane and the player is tasked with putting out the fire and returning the NPCs to the nearest hospital location. Other missions include repair requests, wherein a vehicle will be damage and in need of repair by the player (using the blow torch), long distance towing wherein a vehicle is damaged beyond repair and needs towed to specified location, NPC transport wherein an NPC needs to be moved from one location to another. There are also non-mission objectives such as cargo hauling whether it be with containers or liquids.

DLC Overview

There are also various DLC that add additional gameplay features such as Stormworks: Search & Destroy (which adds weapons and a new game mode), Stormworks: Industrial Frontier (which adds mining & processing, a new isle (the Arid Lands), as well as various wild life to the world), and Stormworks: Space (which introduces the ability to go to space, hydrogen rockets, other space-related components such as RCS, and the ability to land on the moon).

For further reading; please see the Stormworks DLC Category.

Workshop

Steam Workshop example

Stormworks heavily utilises the Steam Workshop to share vehicles, addons, micro-controllers, and mods. When you subscribe to posts on the workshop you are able to utilise them on your own save, whether that be spawning in vehicles made by others, using others micro-controllers or enabling mods/addons pre-save creation.

Vehicles

The single most common upload on the Workshop is that of peoples creations, primarily vehicles. You will find a wide array of creations varying in detail and function. This is a tremendous way to show off your own work and gain notoriety within the community.

Note: These can be added mid-save and do not effect the world/save data. If they are not appearing in your Workshop tab in-game then refresh steam.

Addons

These are files that add onto the world of Stormworks; they must be activated at world creation and cannot be inserted into the world post save creation permanently, however there are ways to temporarily bring them up via the Addon Editor if in custom game mode. These can be systems like new missions such as transit based gameplay like Stormlink, new buildings or map additions such as C4V's Floating Docks, custom settings or game rules such as Custom Career Mode Settings, or alternatively sometimes users use addons to spawn in vehicles that are simply too large to be spawned in via the workbench.

Note: These cannot be added mid-save permanently, and will only persist if enabled at the beginning of creation. Some addons cannot be enabled in their entirety mid-save even temporarily.

Micro-Controllers

Stormworks has an in-depth PLC builder that allows you to make what the game calls "Micro-Controllers", they have their own separate category on the workshop and have their own challenges when it comes to compilation. These Micro-controllers do just about anything you can think of within the confines of the game; the workshop is full of various ECUs (engine control unit), logic for radars and sonar, missile guidance software, boat stabilisation, aircraft stabilisation, even sequential gearbox setups. If you are out of luck and in need of a micro-controller its more than likely the community has produced a variation of it and it resides on the Workshop.

Even if you are an individual who prioritises that all aspects of their builds are 100% produced by themselves, this is still a brilliant avenue to deconstruct other peoples micro-controllers to see how they have achieved similar goals.

Note: These can be added mid-save and do not effect the world/save data. If they are not appearing in your Workshop tab in-game then refresh steam.

Mods

The most recent addition to Stormworks workshop categories are Mods; these differ from Addons as they directly modify the game files as opposed to adding onto them. This means that the game can have new components (such as Thales: Aviation Parts), models, textures (such as various shaders like Opal or Project Reshade), as well as various new additions to the map such as new race tracks or deeper oceans. Whilst there are still limitations to Mods in Stormworks; their integration and accessibility through the workshop makes for easy download and activation.

Note: These cannot be enabled mid-save and must be downloaded and enable prior to world/save creation. Vehicles created with mods may not be available in saves without the same mods enabled, this however depends on the mod (it is recommended to check the workshop descriptions to find out).

Game-modes

In Stormworks there are a variety of game-modes one can play that have varying levels and types of challenge. These are Career Mode, Classic Mode, Custom Mode, and Conquest mode. With the exception of Conquest mode, these are selected via a dropdown menu in the world creation. For Conquest mode, if you have Stormworks: Search and Destroy purchased and installed conquest mode will be enabled by default, and can be disabled by going into the Addons tab, and scrolling down to the bottom wherein you will see "lorem ipsum - insert the name of the addon here", disabling this will disable conquest mode. Conquest mode can persist throughout any other game mode (Career, Classic, Custom).

Career Mode

In career mode the player is given a starting island that contains the Small boat Workbench (or if you have Frontier DLC and chose the starting area in Arid Isle you will also be given a small ground vehicle workbench as well). As every component in the vehicle creator costs money to place, in order to build better and bigger crafts the Player will have to complete various missions, trade cargo, or mine and process resources for income in order to build bigger and better creations. The money can also be used to purchase new islands and workbenches to make larger or more specialised creations (such as train yards for trains or rocket sites for rockets). There is also multiple spots in which the player can purchase a workbench to create static structures that remain in place to carry out tasks such as drilling for oil or communications through radio, or perhaps the player simply wants to construct their own home.

In this game mode you are locked into first person.

Classic Mode

Classic is designed to replicate the variation of Career Mode that was present in the Early Access version of the game prior to September 2020. Whilst in many respects it is similar to Career mode, it instead has a new currency of "Science" wherein you research components prior to being able to use them in your vehicles, and you are not locked into first person. Whilst the addition of research adds an additional layer of difficulty, the research costs are inconsistent with the value of each part which can lead to prolonged gameplay without much progress.

Custom Mode

Custom mode (more commonly referred to as Sandbox or Creative mode) does not restrict the players naturally, infinite money is enabled and the custom menu is fully accessible (which can be used to enable infinite fuel, electricity, lift the fog-of-war, etc). This is where the majority of players reside, and exists for the player to build and test vehicles without restrictions of fuel, cost or research. The default base in this game mode is the Creative Base, however if you have Stormworks: Industrial Frontier purchased and installed, the default base will be the FJ Warner Docks.

Conquest Mode

Conquest mode can be enabled regardless of which game-mode you have enabled (Custom, Classic, or Career). It adds various outpost trucks across the map in various islands and bases which the player must capture by standing within, additionally it adds patrolling enemy groups that capture bases slowly that the player can fight against. Unlike player vehicles, these enemy AI utilise a HP system and will sink/destruct after a certain amount of damage taken.

Notable Updates

Major Updates

Major Updates and Various Vital Release dates

Version Number	Month	Year	Name	Notable Features
N/A	February	2018	Early Access	Early Access was released alongside Multiplayer Features.
v0.2.1	May	2018	#1 - The Missions Update	Mission editor with Workshop support, 10 new island locations, Water Cannon Component.
v0.3.0	July	2018	#2 - Advanced Editing Update	Cut/Copy/Paste and Subassembly System, Improved painting tools, Symmetry and Section Planes.
v0.4.1	September	2018	#3 - Survival Update	Damage, Player Health and Oxygen, Advanced Mechanics (Engines now consume Fuel, air, and produce exhaust, require Power), Sharks, Tsunamis.
v0.5.1	December	2018	#4 - Trains & Micro Controllers Update	Donkk Island Keys (connected via railways), Trains, Microprocessors.
v0.6.1	February	2019	#5 - Arctic Update	Arctic Biome, Cold Damage, Heaters, Arctic Outfit, Ski Components.
v0.7.1	May	2019	#6 - The Cameras, Monitors & Radio Update	Cameras and monitors, Radio Control, Lua Scripting.
v0.8.1	July	2019	#7 - The Preformance Optimisation Update	Redesign of the Stormworks game engine. Rendering, Logic and Physics all calculated separately.
v0.9.1-2	October	2019	#8 - The Mainland Wildfires Update	200km² mainland - Sawyer Isles, improved view distance, wildfires, trees,
v0.10.2	February	2020	#10 - The Multiplayer Performance Update	Smoother Multiplayer, Faster Physics, Dedicated Servers, Gyro Throttle Tuning
v1.0	September	2020	Stormworks Version 1.0 Release	Leaving Early Access - LUA based Game Modifications (addon scripts and mission editor), Spreadable Vehicle Fire, New Career mode and Missions, Tutorials and Logistics, Customisation Menu for game Settings, Weather Simulation and Seasons, First person tools and features, first person animations and body.
v1.1.2	February	2021	#11 - Modular Engine Update	Modular Engines
v1.2.1	May	2021	Coal, Nuclear & Steam Update	Coal & Steam Power, Nuclear Reactors & Radiation, Resource Trading.
v1.3.0	October	2021	Stormworks: Search & Destroy DLC	New DLC Stormworks: Search and Destroy, New handle set, DLC modular Weapons, DLC Handheld Weapons, DLC Conquest Mode.
v1.4.4	February	2022	Natural Disasters Major Update	Physics Based Fish, Natural Disasters (Radial Tsunamis, Meteor Strikes, Volcanic Eruptions, Tornados, Whirlpools), Weather System Rework, Air-raid Siren, Disaster Relief Missions. Kraken?
N/A	March	2022	"Has the Kraken been released?"	Steam News piece confirming the addition of the Kraken, and its spawn conditions.
v1.5.0	June	2022	Underwater Major Update	Underwater Biome, Underwater Missions, Sonar, Glowsticks.
v1.6.2	October	2022	Stormworks: Industrial Frontier DLC	Arid Mainland (400Km² desert landmass south of Sawyer) DLC, new road and rail connections across new mainland, Sawyer Isle trainlines, Mining and Refining, Workbench Resource Storage, Animals and Stormwoofs DLC, Metals and Ores DLC.
v1.7.0	March	2023	The Oil Drilling Major Update	Oil Survey, Oil Rig equipment and components, Oil Drilling, Oil Refining Processes, Fluid Filter Component.
v1.8.0	June	2023	The Oil Disaster Major Update	Oil Spills, Oil Spill Missions, Centrifugal separator, Oil Rod end connector.
v1.9.0	October	2023	Stormworks: Industry Space DLC	World Bordering Wrapping, Large Solar Panels, Fluid, gas and Pressure overhaul, New Gasses, Player breathes, Barometer, Space/Backpack Seat, 2 Space Suit Outfits, Improved Jet/Rocket Particle Rendering, New Rocket Workbenches, Gas Tanks, Gas & Liquid Relief Valves, Directional Radio Components, Players can place vehicles in Geostationary Orbit DLC, Characters can float in space orientated by their camera direction DLC, Atmosphere and Space Simulation DLC, Huge Moon Surface DLC, Various Rocket Components and Space navigation Equipment DLC.
v1.10.0	Janurary	2024	The Rod Fishing Major Update	Fish system overhaul, physics based first person fishing rod, Vacuum hopper-block, Fish traders.
v1.11.0	May	2024	The Commercial Fishing Major Update	Fishing Nets, Fish Biomes and Rarity, Fish Finder
v1.12.0	August	2024	The Lobster Pot Major Update	Crabs & Lobsters, Crab-pots, Fishing rod gameplay and mechanics, Net Anchor Composite Data nodes.
v1.13.0	November	2024	The Asset Modding Major Update	Asset modding with workshop support, SDK with compilers and base game files.
v1.14.0	March	2025	The Sailing Major Update	Sails, Sail Anchors, Keels, Flag size Variety
v1.15.0	July	2025	The Components, Physics, and Gameplay modding update	Modifiable Game Constants, Lua Components, Component Modding, Component Mod Compiler (SDK)