Choose Automation Empire
Choose Automation Empire if you want an Indie experience. 1,482 Steam reviews back the pick.
Automation Empire vs RAILGRADE
Automation Empire and RAILGRADE both land in Strategy, Simulation on Steam, which is why they keep getting compared. The comparison below is built from each game's Steam metadata — release year, genres, categories, Steam Deck status, price, and review score — refreshed daily by imho.run's scraper. Headline differences: Both share Strategy, Simulation on Steam. Automation Empire (2019) is 4 years older than RAILGRADE (2023). RAILGRADE scores higher on Steam reviews (86.8% positive) than Automation Empire (65.1% positive). No login or purchase needed — scroll for the full table, the verdict FAQ, and links to ranked similar games for both titles.
Which should you pick?
Choose RAILGRADE
Choose RAILGRADE if it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 86.8% positive across 710 reviews.
Both Automation Empire and RAILGRADE sit in Strategy and Simulation on Steam, so either pick lands in the same broad neighborhood. Use the side-by-side table for the feature view, or follow the "Games like" links below to see ranked alternatives for either title.
Side-by-side comparison
 Automation Empire |  RAILGRADE | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2019 | 2023 |
| Genres | Strategy, Indie, Simulation | Strategy, Simulation |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows, macOS |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Deck Verified |
| Price | 29.99 USD | 29.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 65.1% positive (1,482 reviews) | 86.8% positive (710 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | DOG HOGGLER | Minakata Dynamics |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Simulation on Steam.
- Automation Empire (2019) is 4 years older than RAILGRADE (2023).
- RAILGRADE scores higher on Steam reviews (86.8% positive) than Automation Empire (65.1% positive).
- RAILGRADE is currently ~0% cheaper on Steam than Automation Empire (29.99 USD vs. 29.99 USD).
- Steam Deck: Automation Empire is Deck Playable, RAILGRADE is Deck Verified.
Automation Empire vs RAILGRADE — FAQ
- Which is better, Automation Empire or RAILGRADE?
- On Steam reviews RAILGRADE scores higher (86.8% positive) than Automation Empire (65.1% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, RAILGRADE is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.
- Should I play Automation Empire or RAILGRADE first?
- If you want chronology, Automation Empire (2019) came out before RAILGRADE (2023). If neither is a sequel to the other, order doesn't really matter — start with whichever fits your current mood, since both share enough on Steam to make either a reasonable opener.
- Are Automation Empire and RAILGRADE similar?
- They overlap on Strategy, Simulation on Steam, so the catalogue groups them together — but "similar" depends on the specific mechanics. Use the genre + category rows above to decide whether the overlap matches what drew you to the one you've already played.