Does this game have a reason?

[Low Standards]

I like the idea of the game but am on the fence about buying it. What is the goal of the game? What is the challenge I would face both early on and in the late game? Does it have a story or missions?

[Llogeyr]

No story, No missions. Just dig with machines and process dirt and ores for bigger machines, basically. Build your own mine, quarry how you want to. Wether be it above ground or underground. There is a leveling system now as well. Which I think is good as it means you won't be running around with the largest equipment in 15hrs of gameplay.

For a better idea of the game I would recommend watching a few videos on Youtube by Splitintwo. Those will really tell you all you want to know.

[ToxicSludge]

More or less as mentioned above. If it helps you, several months ago I seen this game and was sort of hesitant to buy it. Partially because of no MP... Though that is coming down the road.

Though I do enjoy simulators and realism style of games. If this is your style as well, I think you would like it. It's literally just about operating heavy equipment, moving dirt and such. Building is similar that of Space engineers/Mine craft without the need to weld pieces together as you did in space engineers. (Whether or not you played that. Just relating to that.)

I've pumped a few hours into this game so far and enjoying it. Despite it being single player, I just feel it's relaxing, something different.

The Dev team is very much for the community and pretty passionate about the game it seems and new stuff is coming.

Keep in mind it does take you quite sometime to actually do anything though if you wanna play a "career" style mode. Progressions and so on.