Choose Factorio
Choose Factorio if you want a Casual game with Multi-player, Online Co-op, and LAN Co-op. On Steam, it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. 114,794 Steam reviews back the pick.
Factorio vs Planet Barren Objective
Factorio and Planet Barren Objective 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 Planet Barren Objective (2022). Planet Barren Objective is currently ~91% cheaper on Steam than Factorio (2.99 USD vs. 35.00 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 Planet Barren Objective
Choose Planet Barren Objective if it's currently about 91% cheaper on the Steam Store. Planet Barren Objective launched in 2022.
Both Factorio and Planet Barren Objective 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 |  Planet Barren Objective | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2020 | 2022 |
| Genres | Strategy, Indie, Simulation, Casual | Strategy, Indie, Simulation |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Deck Playable |
| Price | 35.00 USD | 2.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 98.3% positive (114,794 reviews) | 5 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op | Single-player only |
| Developers | Wube Software LTD. | Kaan Özgül |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Indie, Simulation on Steam.
- Factorio (2020) is 2 years older than Planet Barren Objective (2022).
- Planet Barren Objective is currently ~91% cheaper on Steam than Factorio (2.99 USD vs. 35.00 USD).
- Factorio has co-op; Planet Barren Objective does not.
- Steam Deck: Factorio is Deck Verified, Planet Barren Objective is Deck Playable.
Factorio vs Planet Barren Objective — FAQ
- Should I play Factorio or Planet Barren Objective first?
- If you want chronology, Factorio (2020) came out before Planet Barren Objective (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 Planet Barren Objective 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 Planet Barren Objective have multiplayer like Factorio?
- No. Factorio supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op), while Planet Barren Objective is listed as single-player only.