Choose Per Aspera
Choose Per Aspera if you want a Simulation game with Multi-player, Online Co-op, and Co-op. On Steam, it has co-op, so you can bring a friend. 2,488 Steam reviews back the pick.
Per Aspera vs Ascend Factory
Per Aspera and Ascend Factory 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. Per Aspera (2020) is 4 years older than Ascend Factory (2024). Ascend Factory is currently ~90% cheaper on Steam than Per Aspera (2.99 USD vs. 29.99 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 Ascend Factory
Choose Ascend Factory if it's currently about 90% cheaper on the Steam Store. Ascend Factory launched in 2024.
Both Per Aspera and Ascend Factory sit in Strategy and Indie 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 |  Ascend Factory | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2020 | 2024 |
| Genres | Strategy, Indie, Simulation | Strategy, Indie |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | 29.99 USD | 2.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 76.9% positive (2,488 reviews) | — |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op | Single-player only |
| Developers | Tlön Industries | Matlyce Studio |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Indie on Steam.
- Per Aspera (2020) is 4 years older than Ascend Factory (2024).
- Ascend Factory is currently ~90% cheaper on Steam than Per Aspera (2.99 USD vs. 29.99 USD).
- Per Aspera has co-op; Ascend Factory does not.
- Per Aspera is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; Ascend Factory has no Deck rating yet.
Per Aspera vs Ascend Factory — FAQ
- Should I play Per Aspera or Ascend Factory first?
- If you want chronology, Per Aspera (2020) came out before Ascend Factory (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 Per Aspera and Ascend Factory 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 Ascend Factory have multiplayer like Per Aspera?
- No. Per Aspera supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op), while Ascend Factory is listed as single-player only.
- Does Per Aspera run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Per Aspera is rated Deck Playable by Valve. Ascend Factory doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.