Choose Factorio
Choose Factorio if you want a Casual game with Subtitle Options and Adjustable Difficulty. On Steam, it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. 114,794 Steam reviews back the pick.
Factorio vs Belts of Iron
Factorio and Belts of Iron 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 6 years older than Belts of Iron (2026). Belts of Iron 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 Belts of Iron
Choose Belts of Iron if you want an Action and Early Access game with Stereo Sound and Surround Sound. On Steam, it's currently about 61% cheaper on the Steam Store. Belts of Iron launched in 2026.
Both Factorio and Belts of Iron sit in Strategy, Indie, and Simulation on Steam and both list Multi-player, Online Co-op, and LAN Co-op, 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 |  Belts of Iron | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2020 | 2026 |
| Genres | Strategy, Indie, Simulation, Casual | Action, Strategy, Indie, Simulation, Early Access |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Unrated |
| Price | 35.00 USD | 13.49 USD |
| Steam reviews | 98.3% positive (114,794 reviews) | 100% positive (18 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op | Multi-player, Online Co-op, LAN Co-op |
| Developers | Wube Software LTD. | Builderment LLC |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Indie, Simulation on Steam.
- Factorio (2020) is 6 years older than Belts of Iron (2026).
- Belts of Iron scores higher on Steam reviews (100% positive) than Factorio (98.3% positive).
- Belts of Iron is currently ~61% cheaper on Steam than Factorio (13.49 USD vs. 35.00 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
- Factorio is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Belts of Iron has no Deck rating yet.
Factorio vs Belts of Iron — FAQ
- Should I play Factorio or Belts of Iron first?
- If you want chronology, Factorio (2020) came out before Belts of Iron (2026). 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 Belts of Iron 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.
- Do both Factorio and Belts of Iron have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: Factorio ships Online Co-op, LAN Co-op; Belts of Iron ships Online Co-op, LAN Co-op.
- Does Factorio run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Factorio is rated Deck Verified by Valve. Belts of Iron doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.