Choose Automata Empire
Choose Automata Empire if you want the Steam Leaderboards side of the pairing. On Steam, it's currently about 55% cheaper on the Steam Store. Automata Empire launched in 2016.
Automata Empire vs Screeps: Arena
Automata Empire and Screeps: Arena 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. Automata Empire (2016) is 9 years older than Screeps: Arena (2025). Screeps: Arena scores higher on Steam reviews (88% positive) than Automata Empire (68.3% 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 Screeps: Arena
Choose Screeps: Arena if it's the newer release (2025) and ships with the modern feature baseline. Screeps: Arena launched in 2025.
Both Automata Empire and Screeps: Arena sit in Strategy, Indie, and Simulation on Steam and both list Multi-player, Online PvP, and PvP, 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
 Automata Empire |  Screeps: Arena | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2016 | 2025 |
| Genres | Strategy, Indie, Simulation | Strategy, Indie, Simulation |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Deck Playable |
| Price | 8.99 USD | 19.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 68.3% positive (41 reviews) | 88% positive (50 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer |
| Developers | Nonadecimal Creative | Screeps, LLC |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Indie, Simulation on Steam.
- Automata Empire (2016) is 9 years older than Screeps: Arena (2025).
- Screeps: Arena scores higher on Steam reviews (88% positive) than Automata Empire (68.3% positive).
- Automata Empire is currently ~55% cheaper on Steam than Screeps: Arena (8.99 USD vs. 19.99 USD).
- Screeps: Arena is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; Automata Empire has no Deck rating yet.
Automata Empire vs Screeps: Arena — FAQ
- Should I play Automata Empire or Screeps: Arena first?
- If you want chronology, Automata Empire (2016) came out before Screeps: Arena (2025). 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 Automata Empire and Screeps: Arena 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.