Cheats & Secrets - Factorio

Overview

Factorio does not feature traditional cheat codes like those found in console games. Instead, it offers a powerful built-in console (accessible by pressing `~` or `/`) that allows you to execute Lua commands for debugging, cheating, or modifying the game world. Additionally, the game includes several Easter eggs, hidden achievements, and developer-intended secrets that reward exploration and creativity. This guide covers all known cheats, commands, secret features, and Easter eggs in the vanilla game.

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Console Commands (Cheats)

Accessing the Console

Press ` (tilde) or / (slash) to open the console.

Type a command and press Enter.

Use the up arrow to recall previous commands.

Commands are not saved between sessions unless added to `data-base` via mods.

Enabling Cheat Mode

```
/c game.player.cheat_mode = true
```
This grants infinite health, infinite ammo (for the pistol), and allows instant crafting without resources. Use `/c game.player.cheat_mode = false` to disable.

Useful Cheat Commands

Command	Effect
`/c game.player.insert{name="iron-plate", count=100}`	Adds 100 iron plates to player inventory. Replace `iron-plate` with any item name.
`/c game.player.force.research_all_technologies()`	Unlocks all technologies instantly.
`/c game.player.force.technologies["automation"].researched=true`	Researches a specific technology (replace `"automation"` with the tech name).
`/c game.player.force.disable_research_queue()`	Prevents further research from starting (useful for pausing progress).
`/c game.player.manual_mining_speed_modifier = 100`	Increases player mining speed by a factor of 100.
`/c game.player.character_running_speed_modifier = 10`	Makes the player run 10x faster.
`/c game.survivors = {game.survivors[1]}`	Wipes all other players/survivors (multiplayer).
`/c game.player.force.kill_all_enemies()`	Destroys all enemy units on the map (biters, spitters, worms, nests).
`/c game.player.force.rechart()`	Reveals the entire map (fog of war removed).
`/c game.difficulty_settings.technology_price_multiplier = 0.1`	Sets research cost multiplier to 10% (faster research).
`/c game.map_settings.enemy_evolution.time_factor=0`	Stops biter evolution over time.

Debug Mode (F4/F5)

Press F4 to open the debug menu. Check boxes to overlay information: `show-player-info`, `show-enemy-expansion-candidates`, `show-pollution`, `show-electric-network`, etc.

Press F5 to cycle through debug overlays (useful for performance stats like UPS/FPS).

Replay System (Hidden Feature)

Factorio automatically saves a replay file in the save folder (e.g., `_autosave3.dat.replay`). You can replay any save by selecting "Replay" in the Load Game menu. This is a developer tool that players can use to review their factory builds.

Easter Eggs & Secrets

The Engineer's Coffee Mug

In the game files, there is a hidden item called "coffee-mug" (used only in a single unused recipe). It cannot be obtained normally, but using the console command `/c game.player.insert{name="coffee-mug"}` will place a coffee mug in your inventory. Using it gives a brief caffeine boost (no actual effect). It's a nod to the developer's own coffee addiction.

The Fish

Fish are normally used as a healing item (5 health each). However, if you equip a fish in your hand and click on a Spidertron (the spider-like vehicle), the Spidertron will play a unique voice line: "A fish! For me? Thanks!" or "I love fish!" (randomly selected). This is a reference to the game's early access days when fish were a meme.

There is a hidden achievement: "So long and thanks for all the fish" – awarded for launching a rocket with a fish in your inventory. The name is a reference to Douglas Adams' The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

The Moon

Zoom out as far as possible in the map view (press M) and look at the sky. You will see a small moon that rotates slowly. This is purely cosmetic and has no gameplay function.

Train Horn Easter Eggs

Trains in Factorio produce a horn sound when passing through a train stop with the "Horn" checkbox enabled. If you listen carefully, the horn sometimes plays a fragment of the classic song "The Entertainer" (the first few notes). This is a subtle reference to old-timey train shows.

Hidden Achievements

Achievement Name	Requirement	Notes
So long and thanks for all the fish	Launch a rocket while having at least one fish in your inventory.	Hidden.
You Are the Cargo	Let a train run over you while you are in a car or tank.	Hidden.
No Time for Chitchat	Launch a rocket within 15 hours of starting a new game.	Hidden.
Smoke Me a Kipper	Die from pollution (suffocation) by staying in a highly polluted area without a filter.	Hidden. Reference to Red Dwarf.
There is no spoon	Launch a rocket within 8 hours.	Actually visible, but included for completeness.

The "Credits" Easter Egg

If you type `/c game.show_credits()` in the console, the game will play the credits sequence as if you just launched a rocket. This is a developer shortcut to test the credits.

Unused Items & Entities

`iron-stick` – a leftover from an old version (no longer used in any recipe).

`heavy-oil-barrel` – removed in 0.17, but still exists in the game files.

`assembling-machine-1` with the `burner-source` (the old burner assembler) – spawnable via `/c game.player.surface.create_entity{name="burner-assembling-machine"}`.

`alien-artifact` – from the pre-0.17 days when biters dropped alien science. Spawning it does nothing.

The "Cracktorio" Joke

On the official Factorio website and in loading screen tips, the game is sometimes jokingly referred to as "Cracktorio" due to its addictive nature. This is not an in-game secret but a community-embraced term.

Peaceful Mode (Map Setting)

When starting a new game, you can enable Peaceful Mode in the map settings. This prevents biters from ever attacking you unless you attack them first. While not a secret, it is often considered a "cheat" for beginners who want to avoid combat entirely.

Developer-Intended Hidden Content

The Replay System

As mentioned above, Factorio automatically records replays. This feature is primarily for debugging but is accessible to players. To view a replay, simply select the `.dat.replay` file in the Load Game screen and choose "Replay". You can fast-forward, rewind, and watch your factory evolve.

The Debug Menu (F4)

This is a developer tool that exposes game internals. While not a secret, many players don't know about it. It can show entity counts, collision boxes, pathfinding data, and more.

The Lua API Console

Factorio's console exposes the full Lua API. Players familiar with Lua can script custom actions, from spawning enemies to modifying terrain. This is the same API used by mods.

Multiplayer Cheats (Administrator Only)

`/c game.players["PlayerName"].teleport({x=0, y=0})` – Teleport a player by name.

`/c game.players["PlayerName"].force.respawn_character()` – Respawn a dead player.

`/c game.auto_save_disabled = true` – Disable autosaves (useful for reducing lag during massive builds).

Important Notes

Console commands are case-sensitive and use exact item/technology names. Use the in-game help (`/help`) or the Factorio Wiki for a full list of prototypes.

Using cheats will disable achievements for that save (permanently). If you want achievements, do not use any `/c` commands.

Some commands (like `kill_all_enemies()`) can cause performance spikes on large maps.

The debug overlays (F4) are safe to use and do not disable achievements.