You’ve optimized every conveyor belt, automated every production line, and squeezed efficiency out of every corner of your Satisfactory base. Now you are craving something fresh, and that same rush of watching machines hum in perfect harmony. The good news? The factory-building genre has exploded with incredible options. Here are 10 games that will scratch that automation itch and keep you building for hundreds of hours.

1. Shapez 2

Sometimes you want pure automation without survival mechanics or resource pressure. Shapez 2 strips the genre down to its core. You design conveyor systems that cut, rotate, color, and combine geometric shapes into increasingly complex patterns.

Don’t let the minimalist aesthetic fool you. The puzzles get seriously challenging, and there’s immense satisfaction in watching your perfectly optimized assembly line produce exactly what’s needed.

2. Foundry

Foundry might be the closest experience to Satisfactory you’ll find. It’s first-person, fully 3D, and set in a gorgeous voxel world where every single block is destructible. You can reshape the terrain entirely to match your factory vision, which feels like a blend of Minecraft and industrial automation.

The game features procedurally generated worlds, so each playthrough feels fresh. Many players enjoy Foundry with friends, and if you’re planning extended co-op sessions, you might want dedicated server hosting by Indifferent Broccoli to keep your factory running smoothly when everyone logs off. The combination of exploration, mining, and building hits that same satisfying loop that makes Satisfactory so addictive.

3. Techtonica

Techtonica takes the first-person factory formula underground. You’re building in vast subterranean caverns, using the environment creatively. Waterfalls power water wheels, and you’ll carve out spaces for massive drilling operations.

The underground setting creates interesting spatial challenges you won’t find in surface-based games. There’s also a mystery narrative woven through the gameplay, giving you reasons to explore beyond just resource gathering. If you enjoy fast leveling strategies in online games, you’ll appreciate how games like Techtonica reward efficient play with quicker unlocks. How you play has a clear impact on your progress.

4. Mindustry

What happens when you combine factory automation with tower defense? You build supply chains while defending against constant enemy waves. Your factories produce ammunition and units that directly support your defenses.

What makes each game stand out:

• Factorio – Deepest logistics complexity, with an active modding community
• Dyson Sphere Program – Largest scale spanning entire star systems
• Foundry – Fully destructible voxel world for terrain customization
• Shapez 2 – Relaxed puzzle-focused gameplay without survival pressure
• Mindustry – Strategic tower defense layer adds combat urgency

5. Timberborn

Timberborn proves factory games can get genuinely creative. You manage a colony of intelligent beavers, building dams, controlling water flow, and automating production while preparing for harsh droughts.

The water physics system is the star here. You’ll redirect rivers, create reservoirs, and design irrigation systems alongside your factories. When you’re ready for a break from conveyor belts, exploring engaging online activities beyond your main game can help prevent burnout and keep gaming fresh. Changing activities helps avoid burnout.

6. Factorio

You cannot talk about factory games without mentioning Factorio. It is the title that helped define the genre. That core loop has inspired an entire wave of factory-building games in recent years. This top-down 2D game drops you on an alien planet where you’ll start by manually mining ore and gradually build your way up to massive automated production lines.

What sets Factorio apart is its incredible depth. The logistics puzzles get genuinely complex, and you’ll spend hours tweaking ratios and optimizing throughput. There is also a combat element. Local wildlife becomes increasingly aggressive as pollution spreads, so you must balance factory expansion with defensive planning.

7. Dyson Sphere Program

This game operates on a much larger scale. If Satisfactory’s scale impressed you, Dyson Sphere Program will blow your mind. Your goal? Build a Dyson sphere, a megastructure that surrounds an entire star to capture its energy.

The sense of progression here is unmatched. You start small, harvesting resources on a single planet, then eventually launch into space to colonize new worlds and connect them with interplanetary transport routes.

Game	Perspective	Unique Feature	Multiplayer
Factorio	Top-down 2D	Combat & defense	Yes
Dyson Sphere Program	3D	Interstellar scale	No
Foundry	First-person 3D	Voxel terrain	Yes
Shapez 2	3D	Pure puzzle focus	No

8. Captain of Industry

Multiple genres come together here. Captain of Industry blends colony simulation with factory building. You lead survivors transforming an abandoned island into a thriving industrial empire, complete with over 150 unique products to discover and produce.

What makes this game special is the human element. Colonists have real needs, including food, housing, and healthcare. You are not just optimizing production lines but managing a functioning civilization.

9. The Planet Crafter

The Planet Crafter flips the script on typical factory games. Instead of exploiting a planet, you terraform it. Your factories generate oxygen, heat, and pressure, gradually transforming a hostile world into a livable ecosystem.

Game	Setting	Player Count	Best For
Captain of Industry	Island colony	Solo	Colony management fans
Techtonica	Underground caverns	1-4 players	Exploration lovers
The Planet Crafter	Hostile planet	1-10 players	Terraforming enthusiasts
Astroneer	Multiple planets	1-4 players	Casual builders
Timberborn	Beaver settlement	Solo	Creative thinkers

10. Astroneer

Astroneer offers a softer, more exploration-focused take on the genre. The art style is colorful and inviting, and the terraforming mechanics let you reshape alien landscapes with satisfying ease. You’ll gather resources, research technologies, and build bases across multiple planets.

It’s less complex than hardcore factory sims, which makes it perfect for newcomers or players who want a more relaxed experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

What game is most similar to Satisfactory?

Foundry offers the closest experience with its first-person perspective, 3D world, and similar gameplay loop of mining, building, and automating. The voxel-based terrain adds unique customization options.

Is Factorio harder than Satisfactory?

Factorio generally has steeper complexity with its combat pressure and intricate logistics puzzles. Satisfactory offers a more relaxed pace with its focus on exploration and building aesthetics.

Can you play these factory games with friends?

Most games on this list support multiplayer. Factorio, Satisfactory, Foundry, Techtonica, The Planet Crafter, and Astroneer all feature co-op modes ranging from 2-10 players.

Are there any free games like Satisfactory?

Mindustry offers a free version with substantial content. Most other quality factory games are paid, though many offer demos on Steam.

What’s a good factory game for beginners?

Astroneer or Shapez 2 provide gentler learning curves. They teach core automation concepts without overwhelming complexity.

Key Takeaways

• Factorio remains the gold standard for deep, complex factory automation with strategic combat elements
• Dyson Sphere Program offers the largest scale, spanning entire star systems
• Foundry provides the closest Satisfactory-like experience in a destructible voxel world
• Shapez 2 delivers pure puzzle satisfaction without survival pressure
• Mindustry uniquely combines tower defense with factory building
• Captain of Industry and Timberborn add colony management layers
• Most titles support co-op play for shared factory-building experiences