Choose Factorio
Choose Factorio if you want the Multi-player, Online Co-op, and LAN Co-op side of the pairing. On Steam, it has co-op, so you can bring a friend. 114,794 Steam reviews back the pick.
Factorio vs ReFactory
Factorio and ReFactory 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. Factorio (2020) is 2 years older than ReFactory (2022). Factorio scores higher on Steam reviews (98.3% positive) than ReFactory (72.5% 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 ReFactory
Choose ReFactory if it's currently about 66% cheaper on the Steam Store. ReFactory launched in 2022.
Both Factorio and ReFactory 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
 Factorio |  ReFactory | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2020 | 2022 |
| Genres | Strategy, Indie, Simulation, Casual | Strategy, Indie, Simulation, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Deck Verified |
| Price | 35.00 USD | 11.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 98.3% positive (114,794 reviews) | 72.5% positive (40 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op | Single-player only |
| Developers | Wube Software LTD. | AIVIK LLC |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Indie, Simulation on Steam.
- Factorio (2020) is 2 years older than ReFactory (2022).
- Factorio scores higher on Steam reviews (98.3% positive) than ReFactory (72.5% positive).
- ReFactory is currently ~66% cheaper on Steam than Factorio (11.99 USD vs. 35.00 USD).
- Factorio has co-op; ReFactory does not.
- Both are Deck Verified.
Factorio vs ReFactory — FAQ
- Should I play Factorio or ReFactory first?
- If you want chronology, Factorio (2020) came out before ReFactory (2022). 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 Factorio and ReFactory 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.
- Does ReFactory have multiplayer like Factorio?
- No. Factorio supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op), while ReFactory is listed as single-player only.
- Do Factorio and ReFactory both run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — both are Steam Deck Verified, meaning Valve confirms they run with full controller support, legible text, and default settings out of the box.