Factorio Forums

Hi all,

Recently I am doing my megabase stuff, looking for knowledge and blueprints on the internet, and what I realized that the base game is not too challening. I mean it does not force me to think more deeply, not punishing me enough or it is just not too exciting for me. There is so much stuff on the internet about belts, inserters, balancers, trains (with their not interrupts); these are so fundamental and intrinsic to the game and it is really not utilized.
So I thought maybe these modpacks I always see have some challenges and maybe force me to think more deeply to come up with more sophisticated solutions.

My main question is: Could you give me a list of full overhaul mods that are balanced, polished, has new content? And how time consuming they are (for a full play)?
Like K2, Pyanodons, Space Exploration (waiting to be 2.0 supported)

Curious myself.

Previous discussion; see “Overhaul Packs” below. Since this post was originally written the Space Exploration mod has been updated, although I have not tried it myself.

Good Luck!

eugenekay wrote: Thu May 08, 2025 12:14 amThe official Space Age Expansion should be mentioned first and foremost as it is implemented as a set of "Official Mods" that enhance the Base Game through additional planets and mechanics. I am assuming that Readers of this Reply are familiar with the Mechanics that it adds - no Spoiler Warnings needed.

Gameplay Enhancements
Small changes which make the game "Better" in some way, without too many side-effects.

• AAI Loaders enables the "Hidden in Vanilla" Loaders, with Lubricant fluid required for Balance
• Ammo Range+ gives more Range to the higher tiers of Gun Magazines
• Bob's Adjustable Inserters OR Smart Inserters
• Cargo Bay Inserters makes Platform Mechanics "Cheesey". I like it anyway
• Cleaned Concrete gets rid of the decoratives poking through the cracks
• Spidertron Automation (aka Constructron-Continued) lets you build a Megafactory without using a giant "Mega Logistic-Construction" network.... the Spiders do all the heavy lifting, powered by Scripting
• Custom Grid Size for the Spidertron, so I can fit exactly 11x11 (16x16 Legendary) Equipment slots.
• Distance Customizer makes Space Platform travel a bit more realistic
• Factorio World adds planet Earth to the world generator - as a separate planet, or replacing Nauvis.
• Factorissimo is an actual "Factory Building"
• Japanese Train Station Names can also be applied to Roboports, Locomotives, etc - or you can make your own List easily.
• Lawn Mower adds a Tool to clear Decoratives
• Lighted Electric Poles adds a Lamp where it is most obvious
• Loaders can Stack makes Loaders superior to Stack Inserters in every possible way - use with care
• Memory Storage to stockpile insane amounts of Asteroid Chunks (or whatever!)
• More Quality Scaling extends quality scaling to locomotives, wagons, storage tanks....
• No Crafting Surface Conditions so you make Turbo Belts in space - use with Caution.
• Rate Calculator makes it easier to find Intermediate shortages and calculate Ratios
• Recycling in Factoriopedia adds Signals to "Recycle" each item - very handy for creating a Quality Recycler Combinator mechanism.
• Renamer customize the Names of Locomotives & friends.
• Lamp Contrast adds some Options to make large Lamp grids look nicer.
• Short Railgun Turret Animation speeds up the rate-of-fire, enabling travel through dense Promethium Asteroid fields
• Spiderissmo adds an Interior to the Car/Tank/Spidertron, complete with Fish Tank. This is not even that useful of a mechanic, but it is AWESOME!
• Spidertron Patrols adds a Waypoint / Dock system... and the adorable Spiderling.
• Spidertron Weapon Loadout choose the Armament (does not affect Modded / Additional Spider types)
• Turrets Arc Limiter adds a Hotkey to restrict where Turrets can look for Enemies - or Asteroids
• Vintage Spidertron makes the Spider Legs look infinitely more Factorio. (does not affect Modded / Additional Spider types)
• Visible Planets, and Valerian's renders look better than the "AI Upscale" alternatives.

Overhaul Packs
These change Gameplay - sometimes for the worse. I do not play with any of these on a regular basis, but I have found them to be very fun. Try them and see what you think!

• Krastorio was neat, but it is advertised as not compatible with Space Age.
• Bob's Mods - Previous Discussion, now updated for 2.0/Space Age. I am not going back, for sanity.
• Pyanodon - I am not masochistic enough to try these myself
• Alien Biomes look great - but I have stopped using it since the new Planets look so nice.

More Enemies

• Armoured Biters go SNAP SNAP!
• Explosive Biters are Vulcanus friendly
• Frost Biters change Aquilo to have more Land, but also more friends!
• Fulgoran Enemies are exactly that!

Recipe Changes/Additions - smaller than an Overhaul, there are many others available!

• AAI Industry adds interesting recipes.
• Advanced Asteroid Processing enables Stone & Uranium production on Space Platforms
• Big Accumulator stores more Charge
• Diverse External Rocket Parts adds a planet-specific recipe, crafted outside of the Rocket Silo.
• Extended Laser Turrets go pew pew pew
• Nuclear Science adds a Uranium based Science pack
• Petroleum Jelly is not even that useful; but its funny!
• Plasma Ducts for new Fusion Reactor layouts
• Productivity Beacons that consume Modules as they work
• Railgun Spidetron is a Cannon with Legs!
• Science Bottles require Glass to store the precious Science Juice.
• Spidertron Weapon Variants additional Spider types
• Steam Cracking makes Oil Refining a bit trickier, requiring integration with your Steam Power Plant.
• Text Plates are normal Iron/Copper, but shaped like "Letters" ?!
• Tungsten Ammo is almost as good as Uranium. Almost.