How to Play: Factory Automation Guide

Learn Can 'Em All how to play with a practical factory loop guide covering weapons, vacuum upgrades, crushers, conveyors, and automation.

If you are searching for Can 'Em All how to play, the first thing to understand is that this is not a run-and-gun game with a side order of factory work. The killing feeds the production line, and the production line funds better killing. A solid Can 'Em All how to play plan therefore starts with the loop, not with a weapon tier list.

The game carries an Overwhelmingly Positive rating from 849 reviews, and the full release adds more weapons, turrets, permanent upgrades, lore, gambling, and an ending to discover. Those extras matter, but they do not change the opening question: how do you turn a truckload of creatures into steady income without letting the factory stall?

The Core Loop: Kill, Crush, Can, Sell, Reinvest

The heart of any Can 'Em All how to play session is a five-step chain. A truck delivers a fresh batch of creatures, you clear the factory with your weapons, you throw the bodies into the crusher, you send the finished cans into the tube, and you spend the money on stronger weapons, turrets, and permanent upgrades or a better vacuum. Each step depends on the one before it, so the factory only improves when you fix the slowest part of that chain.

OrderStageWhat HappensYour JobMain Upgrade Lever
1DeliveryA truck brings in a new batch of creaturesGet ready to clear the factoryWeapons and defenses
2ClearCreatures become your income source only after they are deadKill quickly and safelyStronger weapons, turrets
3ProcessBodies go into the crusher and become cansCollect and feed the crusherVacuum, machines
4SellCans travel through the tubeKeep cans moving outConveyors, tube flow
5ReinvestMoney goes back into the businessBuy the upgrade that fixes your bottleneckPermanent upgrades, automation

The key word is “bottleneck.” If creatures survive too long, better weapons matter more than extra conveyors. If bodies are not reaching the crusher, a vacuum upgrade matters more than another damage boost. If cans are not leaving the factory, production upgrades will not help until transport catches up.

The best Can 'Em All how to play advice for the opening hour is simple: do not buy upgrades at random. Watch the factory for a few delivery cycles and identify the step where progress slows down. The game gives you several ways to reinvest, including weapons, vacuum capacity, machines, and conveyors, but spending on the wrong step can leave you with a stronger first half of the line and a backed-up second half.

Weak LinkWhat You NoticeFirst Fix to ConsiderWhy It Matters
Clear speedCreatures take too long to dieStronger weapons or turretsProduction cannot start until creatures are cleared
CollectionBodies are not reaching the crusherVacuum upgradeThe crusher cannot process what it never receives
ProcessingBodies are waiting around the crusherUnlock or improve machinesCans are the product you actually sell
TransportFinished cans are not reaching the tubeBuild or adjust conveyorsA can that never leaves is not income
Sales flowCans are not converting into spendable moneyImprove the tube and output flowNo cash means no reinvestment

A common mistake is overbuilding one section because it looks impressive. A fast crusher does nothing if your vacuum cannot feed it. A long conveyor line does nothing if the crusher cannot produce cans fast enough. Early on, every purchase should shorten the gap between “creature delivered” and “money earned.”

Weapons, Vacuum, Machines, Conveyors: Spending Priorities

A practical Can 'Em All how to play rule is to spend on the step that is currently costing you the most time. Weapons and turrets protect the start of the loop. The vacuum supports the middle. Machines and conveyors support the end. Permanent upgrades can improve your long-term efficiency, but they should not distract you from an obvious traffic jam in the factory.

Upgrade AreaBest Early UseBest Later UseRisk of Overfocus
WeaponsClear creatures faster so processing can beginHandle larger or tougher deliveriesYou kill quickly but cannot collect or process the bodies
TurretsAdd support while you focus on collection or movementCover areas while automation runsYou rely on defenses but neglect the production chain
VacuumMove bodies into the crusher more reliablyKeep a busy line fedYou collect bodies faster than the crusher can handle them
MachinesTurn bodies into cans at a steady rateIncrease throughput as deliveries growYou produce cans faster than you can move or sell them
ConveyorsMove cans toward the tubeAutomate longer production linesYou build transport for products that are not being made yet
Permanent upgradesSmooth out repeated weak pointsSupport a more automated factoryYou buy long-term power before fixing a basic flow problem

Turrets are part of the full release, and they can be useful when you need extra help clearing the factory. They are not a replacement for the whole loop, though. If your crusher is starved, a new turret will not feed it. If your tube is blocked, a new weapon will not sell the cans already waiting.

A Simple Automation Build Order

Use this Can 'Em All how to play checklist as a practical order of operations. You do not need to automate everything at once. The goal is to make each stage reliable before you connect it to the next one.

PhaseMain GoalActions to TakeExit Condition
1Stable clearingImprove weapons until creatures are handled consistentlyYou are not spending most of your time chasing the same kills
2Reliable collectionUpgrade the vacuum so bodies reach the crusherThe crusher is regularly fed instead of waiting
3Steady processingUnlock or improve machines that turn bodies into cansCans are being produced at a useful rate
4Controlled transportBuild and adjust conveyors so cans reach the tubeFinished cans are not sitting around the line
5Gradual automationConnect the stages and reinvest in permanent upgradesThe line runs with less manual correction

A few habits make this smoother:

  • Upgrade the bottleneck, not the stage that already works.
  • Watch a full delivery cycle before deciding what to buy next.
  • Keep the crusher fed before adding more production capacity.
  • Make sure cans can leave the factory before increasing output.
  • Treat automation as a series of small fixes, not a single late-game switch.

Automation is strongest when each part of the line already works on its own. If you build conveyors before your crusher can keep up, you simply move the problem farther down the factory. If you upgrade machines before your vacuum can supply them, you create idle equipment.

Bottleneck Troubleshooting and Upgrade Mistakes

Most Can 'Em All how to play setbacks come from spending money in the wrong place. The fix is usually not a full rebuild; it is one targeted upgrade at the point where the line slows down.

SymptomLikely CausePractical FixAvoid This Mistake
Creatures take too long to clearWeapon damage or defense is laggingInvest in stronger weapons or add turret supportBuying conveyors before the factory is clear
Bodies are left behindVacuum collection is too weakUpgrade the vacuumAssuming the crusher is the problem
Crusher is not producing cansBodies are not arriving or machines are too slowFeed the crusher first, then improve machinesBuying more weapons with no processing behind them
Cans are not reaching the tubeConveyor path or transport is insufficientBuild or adjust conveyorsIncreasing production before fixing movement
Money is not growingCans are not being sold efficientlyCheck the tube and output flowSpending on side content while the main line stalls

When a line stalls, watch the full journey from delivery to sale. Find the first place where progress stops, then buy the upgrade that removes that stop. Permanent upgrades can be valuable, and lore or gambling can be interesting side content, but they should not pull attention away from an unstable production line.

FAQ

What is the first upgrade in Can 'Em All how to play?

There is no single mandatory first purchase. For Can 'Em All how to play, the safest first move is to watch your factory and fix the earliest bottleneck. If creatures die too slowly, improve weapons. If bodies are missed, upgrade the vacuum. If cans back up, improve conveyors or the tube.

Do I need to automate everything right away?

No. Automate after each stage is stable. A conveyor system is most useful when the crusher is already producing cans and the tube can handle them. Build in stages so you can see which part of the line still needs manual help.

Are turrets worth using?

Turrets are part of the full release and can support your factory defense, but they are only one part of the loop. Pair them with weapons and production upgrades. If your crusher or tube is the weak point, a turret will not solve that problem.

Can a Can 'Em All how to play run ignore lore and gambling?

You can treat lore and gambling as side content while your factory is unstable. The core loop is clearing creatures, processing bodies, selling cans, and reinvesting. Once that loop is steady, you have more room to explore the extra systems in the full release.