I have a love-hate relationship with ShapeHero factory. But a TL;DR for the game is: The most fun you'll ever have applying algebra to "real world" situations.

ShapeHero is fundamentally a series of optimizations problems. Like playing Satisfactory, but with life-or-pixel-death stakes. You get a challenge, build your factory, and if you plan things decently well, you can win with just about any set of starting conditions. Learning how to math and optimize the belts, joiners, dividers, canvases, ink wells, and the random research you're given is the whole game.

I love that the game is colorful and the art style is enjoyable.

I hate that the game (at harder difficulties) comes down to tearing out your entire factory at least once a game and retooling just about everything down to the brass tacks. Winning often requires dusting off a calculator and working out the PRECISE optimal use of your limited resources.

The good news is the game only gives you access to upgrades and units that you have the ability to craft. You just have to plan your route and pay attention to which research trees are available to you. So even if you don't have, say, access to rectangles now you're probably one research point away from the scissors (or ink conversion, more often). But the game won't start you down one tree and then suddenly ask you to make a high level unit from a completely different tree. That's great game design.

So I love the fiddly-mathy factory optimization. I hate the way the game makes me tear everything up and re-build in order to stay competitive.

P.S. There's no reason to play with the timer unless you're trying for that achievement. Turn that damn thing off, sit back, and relax as you try and de-spaghettify your factory.