Choose Per Aspera
Choose Per Aspera if you want the Multi-player, Online Co-op, and Co-op side of the pairing. On Steam, it has co-op, so you can bring a friend. 2,488 Steam reviews back the pick.
Per Aspera vs Smart Factory Tycoon
Per Aspera and Smart Factory Tycoon 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. Per Aspera (2020) is 2 years older than Smart Factory Tycoon (2022). Per Aspera scores higher on Steam reviews (76.9% positive) than Smart Factory Tycoon (58% 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 Smart Factory Tycoon
Choose Smart Factory Tycoon if you want a Casual experience. On Steam, it's currently about 50% cheaper on the Steam Store. Smart Factory Tycoon launched in 2022.
Both Per Aspera and Smart Factory Tycoon 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
 Per Aspera |  Smart Factory Tycoon | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2020 | 2022 |
| Genres | Strategy, Indie, Simulation | Strategy, Indie, Simulation, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Deck Playable |
| Price | 29.99 USD | 14.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 76.9% positive (2,488 reviews) | 58% positive (69 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op | Single-player only |
| Developers | Tlön Industries | Turquoise Revival Games |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Indie, Simulation on Steam.
- Per Aspera (2020) is 2 years older than Smart Factory Tycoon (2022).
- Per Aspera scores higher on Steam reviews (76.9% positive) than Smart Factory Tycoon (58% positive).
- Smart Factory Tycoon is currently ~50% cheaper on Steam than Per Aspera (14.99 USD vs. 29.99 USD).
- Per Aspera has co-op; Smart Factory Tycoon does not.
- Both are Deck Playable.
Per Aspera vs Smart Factory Tycoon — FAQ
- Should I play Per Aspera or Smart Factory Tycoon first?
- If you want chronology, Per Aspera (2020) came out before Smart Factory Tycoon (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 Per Aspera and Smart Factory Tycoon 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 Smart Factory Tycoon have multiplayer like Per Aspera?
- No. Per Aspera supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op), while Smart Factory Tycoon is listed as single-player only.