Choose Automata Empire
Choose Automata Empire if you want an Indie and Simulation game with Steam Leaderboards. On Steam, it's currently about 70% cheaper on the Steam Store. Automata Empire launched in 2016.
Automata Empire vs Industrial Annihilation
Automata Empire and Industrial Annihilation both land in Strategy 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 Strategy games on Steam. Automata Empire (2016) is 8 years older than Industrial Annihilation (2024). Automata Empire scores higher on Steam reviews (68.3% positive) than Industrial Annihilation (30.4% 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 Industrial Annihilation
Choose Industrial Annihilation if you want an Early Access game with Online Co-op and Co-op. On Steam, it's the newer release (2024) and ships with the modern feature baseline. Industrial Annihilation launched in 2024.
Both Automata Empire and Industrial Annihilation sit in Strategy 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 |  Industrial Annihilation | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2016 | 2024 |
| Genres | Strategy, Indie, Simulation | Strategy, Early Access |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Deck Playable |
| Price | 8.99 USD | 29.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 68.3% positive (41 reviews) | 30.4% positive (125 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | Nonadecimal Creative | Galactic Annihilation |
Side by side
- Both are Strategy games on Steam.
- Automata Empire (2016) is 8 years older than Industrial Annihilation (2024).
- Automata Empire scores higher on Steam reviews (68.3% positive) than Industrial Annihilation (30.4% positive).
- Automata Empire is currently ~70% cheaper on Steam than Industrial Annihilation (8.99 USD vs. 29.99 USD).
- Industrial Annihilation has co-op; Automata Empire does not.
- Industrial Annihilation is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; Automata Empire has no Deck rating yet.
Automata Empire vs Industrial Annihilation — FAQ
- Should I play Automata Empire or Industrial Annihilation first?
- If you want chronology, Automata Empire (2016) came out before Industrial Annihilation (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 Automata Empire and Industrial Annihilation similar?
- They overlap on Strategy 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.