Choose Factorio
Choose Factorio if you want a Simulation and 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 Forge Industry
Factorio and Forge Industry both land in Strategy, Indie 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 on Steam. Factorio (2020) is 3 years older than Forge Industry (2023). Factorio scores higher on Steam reviews (98.3% positive) than Forge Industry (66.7% 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 Forge Industry
Choose Forge Industry if you want the Stereo Sound side of the pairing. On Steam, it's currently about 71% cheaper on the Steam Store. Forge Industry launched in 2023.
Both Factorio and Forge Industry sit in Strategy and Indie on Steam and both list Custom Volume Controls, Playable without Timed Input, and Save Anytime, 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 |  Forge Industry | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2020 | 2023 |
| Genres | Strategy, Indie, Simulation, Casual | Strategy, Indie |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Unrated |
| Price | 35.00 USD | 9.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 98.3% positive (114,794 reviews) | 66.7% positive (24 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op | Single-player only |
| Developers | Wube Software LTD. | BiteMe Games |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Indie on Steam.
- Factorio (2020) is 3 years older than Forge Industry (2023).
- Factorio scores higher on Steam reviews (98.3% positive) than Forge Industry (66.7% positive).
- Forge Industry is currently ~71% cheaper on Steam than Factorio (9.99 USD vs. 35.00 USD).
- Factorio has co-op; Forge Industry does not.
- Factorio is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Forge Industry has no Deck rating yet.
Factorio vs Forge Industry — FAQ
- Should I play Factorio or Forge Industry first?
- If you want chronology, Factorio (2020) came out before Forge Industry (2023). 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 Forge Industry similar?
- They overlap on Strategy, Indie 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 Forge Industry have multiplayer like Factorio?
- No. Factorio supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op), while Forge Industry is listed as single-player only.
- Does Factorio run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Factorio is rated Deck Verified by Valve. Forge Industry doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.