Choose Automation Empire
Choose Automation Empire if you want a Simulation experience. 1,482 Steam reviews back the pick.
Automation Empire vs Forge Industry
Automation Empire and Forge Industry both land in Strategy, Indie 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, Indie on Steam. Automation Empire (2019) is 4 years older than Forge Industry (2023). Forge Industry scores higher on Steam reviews (66.7% 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 Forge Industry
Choose Forge Industry if you want the Custom Volume Controls, Stereo Sound, and Playable without Timed Input side of the pairing. On Steam, it's currently about 67% cheaper on the Steam Store. Forge Industry launched in 2023.
Both Automation Empire and Forge Industry sit in Strategy and Indie on Steam, so either pick lands in the same broad neighborhood. Steam reviews are nearly tied (65.1% vs 66.7% positive), so genre fit is the cleanest tiebreaker — scroll the table for the feature-by-feature view.
Side-by-side comparison
 Automation Empire |  Forge Industry | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2019 | 2023 |
| Genres | Strategy, Indie, Simulation | Strategy, Indie |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows, macOS |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | 29.99 USD | 9.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 65.1% positive (1,482 reviews) | 66.7% positive (24 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | DOG HOGGLER | BiteMe Games |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Indie on Steam.
- Automation Empire (2019) is 4 years older than Forge Industry (2023).
- Forge Industry scores higher on Steam reviews (66.7% positive) than Automation Empire (65.1% positive).
- Forge Industry is currently ~67% cheaper on Steam than Automation Empire (9.99 USD vs. 29.99 USD).
- Automation Empire is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; Forge Industry has no Deck rating yet.
Automation Empire vs Forge Industry — FAQ
- Should I play Automation Empire or Forge Industry first?
- If you want chronology, Automation Empire (2019) came out before Forge Industry (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 Forge Industry similar?
- They overlap on Strategy, Indie 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.
- Does Automation Empire run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Automation Empire is rated Deck Playable by Valve. Forge Industry doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.