Choose Contraption Maker
Choose Contraption Maker if you want an Indie and Casual game with Multi-player, Online Co-op, and Co-op. On Steam, it has co-op, so you can bring a friend. Contraption Maker launched in 2014.
Contraption Maker vs Crazy Machines 3
Contraption Maker and Crazy Machines 3 both land in 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 are Simulation games on Steam. Contraption Maker (2014) is 2 years older than Crazy Machines 3 (2016). Crazy Machines 3 scores higher on Steam reviews (93.4% positive) than Contraption Maker (92.4% 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 Crazy Machines 3
Choose Crazy Machines 3 if you want a Strategy experience. On Steam, it's currently about 92% cheaper on the Steam Store. 2,454 Steam reviews back the pick.
Both Contraption Maker and Crazy Machines 3 sit in Simulation on Steam, so either pick lands in the same broad neighborhood. Steam reviews are nearly tied (92.4% vs 93.4% positive), so genre fit is the cleanest tiebreaker — scroll the table for the feature-by-feature view.
Side-by-side comparison
 Contraption Maker |  Crazy Machines 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2014 | 2016 |
| Genres | Indie, Simulation, Casual | Strategy, Simulation |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Deck Unsupported |
| Price | 12.99 USD | 0.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 92.4% positive (701 reviews) | 93.4% positive (2,454 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op | Single-player only |
| Developers | Kevin Ryan | Fakt Software |
Side by side
- Both are Simulation games on Steam.
- Contraption Maker (2014) is 2 years older than Crazy Machines 3 (2016).
- Crazy Machines 3 scores higher on Steam reviews (93.4% positive) than Contraption Maker (92.4% positive).
- Crazy Machines 3 is currently ~92% cheaper on Steam than Contraption Maker (0.99 USD vs. 12.99 USD).
- Contraption Maker has co-op; Crazy Machines 3 does not.
- Steam Deck: Contraption Maker is Deck Playable, Crazy Machines 3 is Deck Unsupported.
Contraption Maker vs Crazy Machines 3 — FAQ
- Which is better, Contraption Maker or Crazy Machines 3?
- On Steam reviews the two are nearly tied: Contraption Maker sits at 92.4% positive (701 reviews), Crazy Machines 3 at 93.4% (2,454). The choice usually comes down to genre fit and the platform features each one supports — see the comparison table above.
- Should I play Contraption Maker or Crazy Machines 3 first?
- If you want chronology, Contraption Maker (2014) came out before Crazy Machines 3 (2016). 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 Contraption Maker and Crazy Machines 3 similar?
- They overlap on 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.
- Does Crazy Machines 3 have multiplayer like Contraption Maker?
- No. Contraption Maker supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op), while Crazy Machines 3 is listed as single-player only.