Choose Automation Empire
Choose Automation Empire if it matches what drew you to this matchup. 1,482 Steam reviews back the pick.
Automation Empire vs The Factory Must Grow
Automation Empire and The Factory Must Grow both land in Strategy, Indie, 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, Indie, Simulation on Steam. Automation Empire (2019) is 5 years older than The Factory Must Grow (2024). The Factory Must Grow is currently ~83% cheaper on Steam than Automation Empire (4.99 USD vs. 29.99 USD). 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 The Factory Must Grow
Choose The Factory Must Grow if it's currently about 83% cheaper on the Steam Store. The Factory Must Grow launched in 2024.
Both Automation Empire and The Factory Must Grow sit in Strategy, Indie, 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 |  The Factory Must Grow | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2019 | 2024 |
| Genres | Strategy, Indie, Simulation | Strategy, Indie, Simulation |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Deck Playable |
| Price | 29.99 USD | 4.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 65.1% positive (1,482 reviews) | 6 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | DOG HOGGLER | Krayno Studios |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Indie, Simulation on Steam.
- Automation Empire (2019) is 5 years older than The Factory Must Grow (2024).
- The Factory Must Grow is currently ~83% cheaper on Steam than Automation Empire (4.99 USD vs. 29.99 USD).
- Both are Deck Playable.
Automation Empire vs The Factory Must Grow — FAQ
- Should I play Automation Empire or The Factory Must Grow first?
- If you want chronology, Automation Empire (2019) came out before The Factory Must Grow (2024). 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 The Factory Must Grow similar?
- They overlap on Strategy, Indie, 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.