Choose Factorio
Choose Factorio if you want an Indie, 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 Proto Garden
Factorio and Proto Garden 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. Factorio (2020) is 4 years older than Proto Garden (2024). Proto Garden scores higher on Steam reviews (100% positive) than Factorio (98.3% 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 Proto Garden
Choose Proto Garden if it's currently about 57% cheaper on the Steam Store. Proto Garden launched in 2024.
Both Factorio and Proto Garden sit in Strategy on Steam, so either pick lands in the same broad neighborhood. Steam reviews are nearly tied (98.3% vs 100% positive), so genre fit is the cleanest tiebreaker — scroll the table for the feature-by-feature view.
Side-by-side comparison
 Factorio |  Proto Garden | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2020 | 2024 |
| Genres | Strategy, Indie, Simulation, Casual | Strategy |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Unrated |
| Price | 35.00 USD | 14.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 98.3% positive (114,794 reviews) | 100% positive (13 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op | Single-player only |
| Developers | Wube Software LTD. | arreyne |
Side by side
- Both are Strategy games on Steam.
- Factorio (2020) is 4 years older than Proto Garden (2024).
- Proto Garden scores higher on Steam reviews (100% positive) than Factorio (98.3% positive).
- Proto Garden is currently ~57% cheaper on Steam than Factorio (14.99 USD vs. 35.00 USD).
- Factorio has co-op; Proto Garden does not.
- Factorio is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Proto Garden has no Deck rating yet.
Factorio vs Proto Garden — FAQ
- Should I play Factorio or Proto Garden first?
- If you want chronology, Factorio (2020) came out before Proto Garden (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 Factorio and Proto Garden 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.
- Does Proto Garden have multiplayer like Factorio?
- No. Factorio supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op), while Proto Garden is listed as single-player only.
- Does Factorio run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Factorio is rated Deck Verified by Valve. Proto Garden doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.