Kaizen: A Factory Story review

Ex-Zachly the way I like it

Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun / Astra Logical

A happy return to free-form automation puzzles from the makers of Opus Magnum, with a pleasing and gentle story about finding satisfaction and balance in your work.

• Developer: Coincidence Games
• Publisher: Astra Logical
• Release: July 14th, 2025
• On: Windows
• From: Steam
• Price: £16.75/$20/€20
• Reviewed on: Intel Core-i7-11700F, 16GB RAM, Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060, Windows 10

“Fine” is a funny word. It can mean something is sublimely crafted, but it can also be used in a withering sense. It’s fine. This is fine . But there’s another, calm and casual sense in which you can say something is fine. Like when a friend handing you some tea apologises because they “only have semi-skimmed milk”. S’fine. Or when they say “nah, let’s go to a different pub”. Sure, fine! You’re just happy to hang out. Kaizen: A Factory Story is a fine game. It is a puzzler that makes me feel OK about not finding the perfect solution.

If you’ve played any game by the developers at Coincidence Games (nee Zachtronics), you’ll have some idea of what’s coming. A free-form puzzler about programming little machines to build stuff. Each puzzle hands you a bunch of disassembled pieces to put together in the right way, hoping to make a TV set, a camcorder, a toilet seat, and so on. There’s a little picture of your intended product always pinned to one corner of the screen. You drag and drop various pieces onto a workspace, then plant down grabby arms, zappy welders, and toothy drills, all while programming them with simple commands. You can drag a timeline back and forth to see how things will go. CLUNK. You’ve flipped the TV screen into a metal arm. Scroll back, moron, and try again.

Like I say, Kaizen isn’t a Zachtronics game - that company closed down. But everyone you know and like who worked there now make similar things as Coincidence. The result is another satisfactory brainscratcher about plopping down pistons and whirlers and fusers and twirlers, all in an effort to make the best production line for a pair of jogging shorts or the best personal computer of 1986.

That’s when the game is set - you’re a Japanese American new to Tokyo in the glowing days of 1986. It’s a story about wanting to do more but often needing to rethink your expectations. Between the puzzles you get snippets of a visual novel style story, full of characters who would love to make cooler toys, or invent more impressive plastic food.

But they usually end up having to compromise on that vision and scale things down. Protagonist David comes to Japan thinking he’ll be a big player in the business side of Matsuzawa Manufacturing, but he ends up working on the factory floor. There he might have to jam together a cheap radio or cut collars into t-shirts with razor gadgets. As it turns out, that’s fine too.

The characters often chat about the future, making comical (sometimes even accurate) predictions. |Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun / Astra Logical

The puzzles themselves are more jigsaw-like than previous games by the same designers. It feels easier and less mathy, with far fewer commands needed to complete any given puzzle. It’s like Wilmot Works It Out , if Wilmot had to program a squad of little robots to do the heavy lifting. It also forces you to think in modular ways. What big chunks of this betamax recorder can I put together on one side of the workspace, while I smoosh together its smaller button panels on the other side? You need to consider spacing a lot, not only because you get awarded a higher score for keeping things compact, but also because your machinery can get in its own way. Do the twin screens of your Game Boy knockoff have enough clearance to escape the arms around them? Can I flip this entire fake sushi box without clunking into all the welders I’ve already built?

Why am I riveting socks? Is this legal? |Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun / Astra Logical

Despite being more approachable, it still makes my brain fizz in special ways. I start to overthink things, desperately searching for a hyper-efficient solution before I’ve even found a jerry-rigged half-decent one. Sometimes I will be flipping and rotating parts, moving components along long tracks, when suddenly I step back and see that my supposedly ingenious solution is just one big leaky Rube Goldberg job. With a small tweak, I can delete half of these components and finish the work in a fraction of the time. This is the smug satisfaction of this studio’s games; being a master of efficiency completely by mistake. “Your methods might be a little unusual,” says a supervisor to David at one point. “But you got results, and that’s what matters.”

The challenges do ramp up in later chapters. When I was handed a rice cooker and saw that the controls had to be located smack bang in the centre of the machine, my brain went “oooo”. It meant I had to cut up parts and glue them back together afterwards, like performing surgery on a big pot. But I soon discovered it would not be that simple. I didn’t have the potpart needed to plug a gap. I banged my head against this puzzle for 45 minutes, before finally understanding the simple concept of “punching” your way through a problem. When I was instructed to assemble this coffee machine shortly afterwards, I whispered quietly: “Oh shit”.

I got the whole way through building this before noticing two small but significant errors. Can you spot them? |Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun / Astra Logical

I remember seeing a Honda advert on TV years ago. It talked about the word “OK” and how it was one of the English language’s most common words. It too was set in a factory, where workers mindlessly stamped big metal printouts of the word “OK”. The point of the advert was that “OK” was not good enough - there was always something more you could do. There was always a better word to print.

Kaizen’s story reminds me of that ad. It is a tale of factory folks getting on with things, but always having some improvement in mind. Except here there is some tension between the idea that improvement must be chased, and the admission that “OK” sometimes is all you need. One of the managers you meet is obsessed with the ill-fated video cassette format Betamax, because it is the “higher quality” product. The other workers try in vain to explain to him that high quality sometimes doesn’t matter.

<img loading=“lazy” src=“https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/kaizen-a-factory-story-review-6.jpg?width=2048&height=2048&fit=bounds&quality=85&format=jpg&auto=webp" onerror=“this.onerror=null;this.src=‘https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhe7F7TRXHtjiKvHb5vS7DmnxvpHiDyoYyYvm1nHB3Qp2_w3BnM6A2eq4v7FYxCC9bfZt3a9vIMtAYEKUiaDQbHMg-ViyGmRIj39MLp0bGFfgfYw1Dc9q_H-T0wiTm3l0Uq42dETrN9eC8aGJ9_IORZsxST1AcLR7np1koOfcc7tnHa4S8Mwz_xD9d0=s16000';" alt=“A t-shirt is finished on the workspace, with the words “Design approved” below. - 9”>

This tension between perfectionism and satisfaction is a perfect theme to explore in what we have previously called “Zachlikes” after lead designer Zach Barth. They are historically games that forever encourage you to find a more efficient solution - a faster one, a cheaper one, a smarter one. Yet, as much as I love them, my progress almost always grinds to a halt in the final act. In looking for perfect solutions, I get bogged down and don’t even try a messy one. “Perfect” and “done” might not be enemies, but they are at least housemates who leave each other passive-aggressive fridge notes. It’s fun to see the game interrogate its own practices through the tired salarymen, frustrated assistants, and wealthy bosses of the story.

It’s a tradition of these developers to include a solitaire-style minigame - here it’s a mash-up of solitaire and pachinko. |Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun / Astra Logical

Matsuzawa Manufacturing is full of employees who are not where they want to be. But it’s not a story about failed dreams. Instead, it’s a reminder that humans have a built-in engine of optimism, and even though our ambitions are often doomed to shrinkage, it is worth making that shrunken version of our hopes regardless. We can be overambitious all over again on the next thing.

A plain robot toy is sometimes as good as we can manage. We will not always beat a puzzle in the most perfectly optimal way. Sometimes the most efficient solution is simply the one that lets you hit the big green button to start the factory up. In Opus Magnum , a previous game from these developers (and still my favourite of all their work) the machinery I built often had a synchronous beauty. It was a game of elegance. Kaizen, by contrast, feels like a game of acceptance. My factory lines are untidy, boxy, yet supremely OK. When it comes to form and function, everything here is fine.

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Kaizen: A Factory Story

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All 75 Arc Raiders Blueprints and where to get them

These areas have the highest chance of giving you Blueprints

Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Embark Studios

Looking for more Arc Raiders Blueprints? It’s a special day when you find a Blueprint, as they’re among the most valuable items in Arc Raiders. If you find a Blueprint that you haven’t already found, then you must make sure you hold onto it at all costs, because Blueprints are the key to one of the most important and powerful systems of meta-progression in the game.

This guide aims to be the very best guide on Blueprints you can find, starting with a primer on what exactly they are and how they work in Arc Raiders, before delving into exactly where to get Blueprints and the very best farming spots for you to take in your search.

We’ll also go over how to get Blueprints from other unlikely activities, such as destroying Surveyors and completing specific quests. And you’ll also find the full list of all 75 Blueprints in Arc Raiders on this page (including the newest Blueprints added with the Cold Snap update , such as the Deadline Blueprint and Firework Box Blueprint), giving you all the information you need to expand your own crafting repertoire.

In this guide:

• What are Blueprints in Arc Raiders?
• Full Blueprint list: All crafting recipes
• Where to find Blueprints in Arc Raiders Blueprints obtained from quests Blueprints obtained from Trials Best Blueprint farming locations

What are Blueprints in Arc Raiders?

Blueprints in Arc Raiders are special items which, if you manage to extract with them, you can expend to permanently unlock a new crafting recipe in your Workshop. If you manage to extract from a raid with an Anvil Blueprint, for example, you can unlock the ability to craft your very own Anvil Pistol, as many times as you like (as long as you have the crafting materials).

To use a Blueprint, simply open your Inventory while in the lobby, then right-click on the Blueprint and click “Learn And Consume” . This will permanently unlock the recipe for that item in your Workshop. As of the Stella Montis update, there are allegedly 75 different Blueprints to unlock - although only 68 are confirmed to be in the game so far. You can see all the Blueprints you’ve found and unlocked by going to the Workshop menu, and hitting “R” to bring up the Blueprint screen.

It’s possible to find duplicates of past Blueprints you’ve already unlocked. If you find these, then you can either sell them, or - if you like to play with friends - you can take it into a match and gift it to your friend so they can unlock that recipe for themselves. Another option is to keep hold of them until the time comes to donate them to the Expedition.

Full Blueprint list: All crafting recipes

Below is the full list of all the Blueprints that are currently available to find in Arc Raiders, and the crafting recipe required for each item:

Note: The missing Blueprints in this list likely have not actually been added to the game at the time of writing, because none of the playerbase has managed to find any of them. As they are added to the game, I will update this page with the most relevant information so you know exactly how to get all 75 Arc Raiders Blueprints.

Where to find Blueprints in Arc Raiders

Below is a list of all containers, modifiers, and events which maximise your chances of finding Blueprints:

• Certain quests reward you with specific Blueprints .
• Completing Trials has a high chance of offering Blueprints as rewards.
• Surveyors have a decent chance of dropping Blueprints on death.
• High loot value areas tend to have a greater chance of spawning Blueprints.
• Night Raids and Storms may increase rare Blueprint spawn chances in containers.
• Containers with higher numbers of items may have a higher tendency to spawn Blueprints. As a result, Blue Gate (which has many “large” containers containing multiple items) may give you a higher chance of spawning Blueprints.
• Raider containers (Raider Caches, Weapon Boxes, Medical Bags, Grenade Tubes) have increased Blueprint drop rates. As a result, the Uncovered Caches event gives you a high chance of finding Blueprints.
• Security Lockers have a higher than average chance of containing Blueprints.
• Certain Blueprints only seem to spawn under specific circumstances: Tempest Blueprint only spawns during Night Raid events. Vulcano Blueprint only spawns during Hidden Bunker events. Jupiter and Equaliser Blueprints only spawn during Harvester events.

Raider Caches, Weapon Boxes, and other raider-oriented container types have a good chance of offering Blueprints. |Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Embark Studios

Blueprints have a very low chance of spawning in any container in Arc Raiders, around 1-2% on average. However, there is a higher chance of finding Blueprints in particular container types. Specifically, you can find more Blueprints in Raider containers and security lockers.

Beyond this, if you’re looking for Blueprints you should focus on regions of the map which are marked as having particularly high-value loot. Areas such as the Control Tower in Dam Battlegrounds, the Arrival and Departure Buildings in Spaceport, and Pilgrim’s Peak in Blue Gate all have a better-than-average chance of spawning Blueprints somewhere amongst all their containers. Night Raids and Electromagnetic Storm events also increase the drop chances of certain Blueprints .

In addition to these containers, you can often loot Blueprints from destroyed Surveyors - the largest of the rolling ball ARC. Surveyors are more commonly found on the later maps - Spaceport and Blue Gate - and if one spawns in your match, you’ll likely see it by the blue laser beam that it casts into the sky while “surveying”.

Surveyors are quite well-armoured and will very speedily run away from you once it notices you, but if you can take one down then make sure you loot all its parts for a chance of obtaining certain unusual Blueprints.

Blueprints obtained from quests

One way in which you can get Blueprints is by completing certain quests for the vendors in Speranza. Some quests will reward you with a specific item Blueprint upon completion, so as long as you work through all the quests in Arc Raiders, you are guaranteed those Blueprints.

Here is the full list of all Blueprints you can get from quest rewards:

• Trigger Nade Blueprint: Rewarded after completing “Sparks Fly”.
• Lure Grenade Blueprint: Rewarded after completing “Greasing Her Palms”.
• Burletta Blueprint: Rewarded after completing “Industrial Espionage”.
• Hullcracker Blueprint (and Launcher Ammo Blueprint): Rewarded after completing “The Major’s Footlocker”.

Alas, that’s only 4 Blueprints out of a total of 75 to unlock, so for the vast majority you will need to find them yourself during a raid. If you’re intent on farming Blueprints, then it’s best to equip yourself with cheap gear in case you lose it, but don’t use a free loadout because then you won’t get a safe pocket to stash any new Blueprint you find. No pain in Arc Raiders is sharper than failing to extract with a new Blueprint you’ve been after for a dozen hours already.

One of the best ways to get Blueprints is by hitting three stars on all five Trials every week. |Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Embark Studios

Blueprints obtained from Trials

One of the very best ways to get Blueprints is as rewards for completing Trials in Arc Raiders. Trials are unlocked from Level 15 onwards, and allow you to earn rewards by focusing on certain tasks over the course of several raids. For example, one Trial might task you with dealing damage to Hornets, while another might challenge you to loot Supply Drops.

Trials refresh on a weekly basis, with a new week bringing five new Trials. Each Trial can offer up to three rewards after passing certain score milestones, and it’s possible to receive very high level loot from these reward crates - including Blueprints. So if you want to unlock as many Blueprints as possible, you should make a point of completing as many Trials as possible each week.

Best Blueprint farming locations

The very best way to get Blueprints is to frequent specific areas of the maps which combine high-tier loot pools with the right types of containers to search. Here are my recommendations for where to find Blueprints on every map, so you can always keep the search going for new crafting recipes to unlock.

Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Embark Studios

Dam Battlegrounds

The best places to farm Blueprints on Dam Battlegrounds are the Control Tower, Power Generation Complex, Ruby Residence, and Pale Apartments . The first two regions, despite only being marked on the map as mid-tier loot, contain a phenomenal number of containers to loot. The Control Tower can also contain a couple of high-tier Security Lockers - though of course, you’ll need to have unlocked the Security Breach skill at the end of the Survival tree.

There’s also a lot of reporting amongst the playerbase that the Residential areas in the top-left of the map - Pale Apartments and Ruby Residence - give you a comparatively strong chance of finding Blueprints. Considering their size, there’s a high density of containers to loot in both locations, and they also have the benefit of being fairly out of the way. So you’re more likely to have all the containers to yourself.

Buried City

The best Blueprint farming locations on Buried City are the Santa Maria Houses, Grandioso Apartments, Town Hall, and the various buildings of the New District . Grandioso Apartments has a lower number of containers than the rest, but a high chance of spawning weapon cases - which have good Blueprint drop rates. The others are high-tier loot areas, with plenty of lootable containers - including Security Lockers.

Spaceport

The best places to find Blueprints on Spaceport are the Arrival and Departure Buildings, as well as Control Tower A6 and the Launch Towers . All these areas are labelled as high-value loot regions, and many of them are also very handily connected to one another by the Spaceport wall, which you can use to quickly run from one area to the next. At the tops of most of these buildings you’ll find at least one Security Locker, so this is an excellent farming route for players looking to find Blueprints.

The downside to looting Blueprints on Spaceport is that all these areas are hotly contested, particularly in Duos and Squads. You’ll need to be very focused and fast in order to complete the full farming route.

Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Embark Studios

Blue Gate

Blue Gate tends to have a good chance of dropping Blueprints, potentially because it generally has a high number of containers which can hold lots of items; so there’s a higher chance of a Blueprint spawning in each container. In my experience, the best Blueprint farming spots on Blue Gate are Pilgrim’s Peak, Raider’s Refuge, the Ancient Fort, and the Underground Complex beneath the Warehouse .

All of these areas contain a wealth of containers to loot. Raider’s Refuge has less to loot, but the majority of the containers in and around the Refuge are raider containers, which have a high chance of containing Blueprints - particularly during major events.

Stella Montis

On the whole, Stella Montis seems to have a very low drop rate for Blueprints (though a high chance of dropping other high-tier loot). If you do want to try farming Blueprints on this map, the best places to find Blueprints in Stella Montis are Medical Research, Assembly Workshop, and the Business Center . These areas have the highest density of containers to loot on the map.

In addition to this, the Western Tunnel has a few different Security Lockers to loot, so while there’s very little to loot elsewhere in this area of the map, it’s worth hitting those Security Lockers if you spawn there at the start of a match.

That wraps up this primer on how to get all the Blueprints in Arc Raiders as quickly as possible. With the Expedition system constantly resetting a large number of players’ Blueprints, it’s more important than ever to have the most up-to-date information on where to find all these Blueprints.

While you’re here, be sure to check out our Arc Raiders best guns tier list , as well as our primers on the best skills to unlock and all the different Field Depot locations on every map.

ARC Raiders

PS5 , Xbox Series X/S , PC

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