Hard to Convey is a 2D puzzle game that takes Factorio-like conveyor belt mechanics and puts them into a cozy, hand-crafted puzzle setting themed around conveyor belt sushi and cats. You play as a sushi chef, running a conveyor bar for sushi-loving cats. You must use conveyors to move, sort, and process a variety of ingredient items, delivering finished sushi roll items to your fish-fiending customers.
Hard to Convey falls into the genre of 2D puzzle games. It has similarities to Factorio (2020) in modifying and sorting items using inputs and outputs, and it has similarities to Railbound (2022) in terms of grid-based movement-on-rails. Hard to Convey fits directly into the niche of these two games, using grid-based movement-on-rails for a bounded puzzle experience while using “Factorio-style” machines to allow for creativity and open-ended solutions.
Hard to Convey’s unique thematic decisions are what cement it as an original product in the puzzle game market. It’s more “cutesy” and “cozy” than the traditionally rugged industrial theming of automation puzzle games like Factorio.
In terms of gameplay, Hard to Convey is a challenging puzzle game with elements of movement, computer science, and topology. The player moves ingredients around the puzzle between a variety of complex machines to sort, process, and deliver items to specified output destinations. These puzzles derive logic from computer science, utilizing concepts such as loops and seriality to challenge the player. In terms of theming, this game is about cats and Japanese-style conveyor belt sushi, placing the Factorio-like conveyor belt mechanics into a cozy aesthetic, neatly fitted for the target casual audiences.
Hard to Convey has three main target audiences: moderate puzzle gamers and casual/cozy gamers. Moderate puzzle gamers will enjoy the game for its logical challenges and unique puzzle mechanics, and casual/cozy gamers will enjoy the game's slow ramp-up in difficulty and cute, hand-drawn aesthetic. Fans of games like Factorio and Railbound will be drawn to this game for its gameplay, while fans of the aesthetic will be pooled from cute games like Cats and Soup (2021). The game’s style will also appeal to people engaged in Japanese culture, targeting the younger generation who frequently watches anime and reads manga.