Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers about how Empire of Gears actually works. Still stuck? Send us a message.
›What is Empire of Gears?
Empire of Gears is a free browser-based idle factory game. You place machines on a factory grid, connect them into production chains, sell what you produce, and reinvest the cash into more machines and more floor space. It runs in your browser — no download, no install.
›Is Empire of Gears free to play?
Yes. The whole game is free. There are optional purchases — Factory Core packs, a Pro membership and a few one-off unlocks — but nothing is required to play, build a factory or appear on the leaderboards.
›How do I start playing?
Create a free account with an email address or sign in with Google, and you land straight in your factory. You start with a small grid, a hand-crank generator and a manual tap button that produces your first cash. From there you buy your first machines in the Shop and place them on the grid.
›How does production work?
Every machine you place produces on a tick. Machines that need inputs pull them from adjacent machines through their connections, so a smelter next to a press keeps the press supplied. Your total output is summarised as cash per second on the Data tab, and surplus output is sold automatically so your lines don't jam when storage fills up.
›How do I make Electronics?
Electronics are made with the Electronics Plant recipe, which runs on a Welding Robot (tier 2) as well as the Robotic Arm Grid and Smart Logistics Hub. The recipe needs 2 Copper + 1 Plastic every 4 seconds. Copper comes from a Copper Mine, and Plastic comes from the Oil Rig → Plastic Refinery chain, both of which run on a Steel Press. The Welding Robot is the easiest starting point since it only costs Steel and Machine Parts.
›What are machines?
Machines are the buildings you place on the factory grid. Basic ones like the hand-crank generator and solar panel produce on their own. Later ones — steel presses, assembly tables, robotic arms, fusion reactors — take inputs from neighbouring machines and turn them into more valuable outputs. Each machine has a footprint, a cost and a recipe you can set.
›What are Factory Cores?
Factory Cores are the premium currency. They unlock extra factory floors, some map sections and cosmetic items. You can earn Cores for free through daily games, science quizzes, achievements, seasons and referrals, or buy Core packs if you want to skip ahead.
›Does production continue while I'm offline?
Yes. Your factory keeps accruing while you're away and the earnings are credited when you come back, so you don't have to keep the tab open. Offline accrual is not capped, so you're credited for the whole time you were away.
›Can I play on my phone?
Yes. Empire of Gears is built mobile-first and works in any modern mobile browser. You can also add it to your home screen from your browser menu and it will open full-screen like an app.
›Do I need to download anything?
No. There is no app store download and no installer. The game loads in your browser on desktop, tablet and phone.
›How is my progress saved?
Your factory is saved to your account on our servers, not just in your browser. Saves happen automatically while you play, so signing in on another device picks up where you left off.
›How do referrals work?
Every account has a referral code you can share from the Referrals page. When someone starts playing with your code, you earn 50 Factory Cores and an ongoing 1% bonus on the factory cash they generate, for up to 10 referred players.
›How do I report a bug?
Use the contact form and choose "Bug Report". Telling us what you were doing, what you expected and what actually happened — plus your device and browser — makes it much faster to fix.
›How do I contact support?
Send a message through the contact page, or email blacklane.solutions@gmail.com directly. Empire of Gears is run by a very small team, so replies can take a couple of days.
›Where does the money for rewards come from?
Empire of Gears does not display advertisements. A portion of eligible net revenue from optional purchases may be allocated to the Player Reward Pool after refunds, chargebacks, payment costs, taxes, expenses and reserves. This is not direct revenue sharing, ownership or an investment.
›How do I earn redeemable rewards?
Eligible gameplay, including operating Revenue Generators, can create provisional estimates. Nightly settlement checks available pool funding and player limits before approved value reaches your redeemable wallet. In-game Factory Cash, materials and Factory Cores are separate and cannot be redeemed for money.
›Are rewards guaranteed?
No. Rewards are optional promotional game benefits, not wages, income, interest, an investment, passive income, ROI or guaranteed profit. Rates, limits, eligibility, funding and availability may change. Real-world redemptions currently require at least $5.00 in whole dollars, U.S. eligibility and manual review.