14 Games Like Satisfactory for Builders in 2026

Fans of massive factories and synchronized conveyor belts will love discovering these unique titles. Any one of these could be the next game you sink hundreds of hours into, so keep reading to discover hidden gems.

Our Top Picks for Games Like Satisfactory

Here are just a few of the games that will scratch that Satisfactory itch. Each brings someone unique to the table, which is why each of these titles is worth checking out. If you are a fan of complex systems and forward thinking, any of the games here will give your brain a workout.

Factorio

FACTORY SIM

Factorio is the factory-building title that inspired Satisfactory. Here, deep mechanics help you strive towards your next goal. Before you know it, it’s been hours.

Timberborn

COLONY SIM

Keeping beavers happy is the goal of this game, which blends city-building mechanics with the rewarding automation features that Satisfactory is known for.

Astroneer

SURVIVAL

This base-building sandbox game has you gathering resources and terraforming alien worlds into soft, beautiful landscapes.

This is just the beginning, so keep scrolling to find more unique factory-building games you might not have heard about. The titles here range from some of the most well-known automation and strategy games to games that didn’t receive much fanfare.

14 Games Like Satisfactory Packed With Automation

Below, I’ll introduce you to 14 games packed with factory-building and exploration. These games are the perfect next step for fans of Satisfactory. Each title is built on a foundation of deep resource management and complex systems. How many have you played?

Factorio

Best for Deep Strategy

Our Score ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ Nintendo Switch, Linux, Windows, GeForce Now Creator/s Wube Software Advanced systems and addictive gameplay Metacritic score If you love Satisfactory and haven’t played

Factorio

yet, you’re missing out in a big way.

Factorio

flings you straight into a strategic sandbox where assembly lines and conveyor belts dance a complex ballet that you can’t stop watching. The way you optimize your industrial processes is where the game becomes addictive, with a gameplay loop that far outshines its somewhat dated graphics.

Factorio

is easily one of the best-loved games in this genre, and it actually inspired Satisfactory. It has a lean, no-frills design that gives your brain a workout as you juggle advancement methods and blueprint tools. It presents a challenge without feeling impossible if you keep trying new things and work for your results. Though the game can be grindy, it’s extremely satisfying for a specific type of player.

Here, every part of your factory matters. If you want a game that gives your brain a workout, you can’t skip

Factorio

. For fans of Satisfactory, it doesn’t get much better than this.

Why we chose it

Factorio

set the bar for this type of industry simulation game, and its addictive gameplay loop inspired Satisfactory.

My verdict:

If precision and grand-scale logistics are what you craft,

Factorio

is the best simulation game to scratch that itch.

What do players think?

snellface ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ To me, Factorio (with and without the Space Age DLC) is one of the greatest games ever made 2.

Timberborn

Best for Whimsical Fun

Our Score ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ macOS, Microsoft Windows, GeForce Now Creator/s Mechanistry, Mechanistry Sp. z o.o.

Beaver-centric gameplay Metacritic score TBD

Timberborn

reimagines automation through the lens of industrious beavers. Unlike Satisfactory, you play as a beaver who seeks to keep your colony happy and thriving. The water physics in this title are especially charming. You’ll weather droughts and terraform your spaces using dams, as beavers tend to do. This is an Early Access game, and each update brings extensive new features that may completely change how you experience the game.

The benefit of

Timberborn

’s Early Access status is that updates are still coming, and the developers are fully tuned in to what players are saying. If there are issues, they will be addressed sooner rather than later.

City-building, strategy, and industry play significant roles in

Timberborn

, making it a suitable next step for those who enjoyed Satisfactory. It’s extremely charming, and consistent updates mean there’s always something new to discover. The unique twist and lack of full industrial aesthetic (as well as the beaver companions) may make this a more palatable experience.

Why we chose it This title brings that Satisfactory -style gameplay into a cozy, eco-conscious sandbox. The small studio that made it is focused on providing a polished experience.

My verdict:

Timberborn

is an exciting strategy game for those who prefer their automation with a whimsical twist.

What do players think?

Particular_Reserve35 ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ I personally love just building. Especially with the new update that introduced 3D water and overhangs, has really opened up what you can build.

Astroneer

Best for Space Exploration

Our Score ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, GeForce Now 2016 (Early Access), 2019 (Full Release)

Creator/s System Era Softworks Chill survival elements Metacritic score

Astroneer

is a physics-based sandbox game that is a little lighter on optimization than other games in the genre. While there’s little to be gained by mastering your builds, there’s a lot to be said about exploration, building, and co-op adventures in this game.

Every new world is alien. It’s vibrant and full of new areas to explore and resources to collect.

You move from world to world, terraforming and building outposts to connect to your ever-growing galactic network. It’s easily one of the most chill space games I’ve ever played. Playing with friends is flexible and rewarding, too.

Though it fully embraces the basebuilding genre, this planet crafter takes great care to put less pressure on you than similar games. It’s set in space but grounded on Earth, without leaning too far into complex mechanics.

Why we chose it

Open-world wonder fuels this game, but it shares the same joy for engineering that Satisfactory is known for.

My verdict:

For those craving exploration and base-building in a soft, vibrant setting,

Astroneer

ticks all the boxes. You’ll find the same level of enjoyment from its systems without delving too deeply into complex strategy.

What do players think?

christerflea ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ I prefer Astroneer because it requires less thinking/planning.

Shapez 2

Best for Puzzle Solving

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• Linux, Microsoft Windows, GeForce Now
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• Massive scale 3D puzzle solving
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Shapez 2

• distills the automation and factory-building genre to its logical core
• . This 3D game takes everything you love about the factory-building aspects of
• Satisfactory

and makes it the core gameplay loop. You’re combining parts to make shapes and colors in an overall simplified production line. That doesn’t mean it’s too simple, though.

The minimalist grids you work with evolve into sprawling logic puzzles, but the abstract nature of them doesn’t feel restrictive. Instead, it hits the sweet spot for anyone who can’t help but plan ahead. It’s a delightful puzzle game that emphasizes all of your favorite parts of Satisfactory.

Why we chose it

Shapez 2

is one of the purest forms of this genre that you can play. If Satisfactory felt too overinvolved for you,

Shapez 2

is a good alternative.

My verdict:

Shapez 2

is built for strategic minds who want fully-optimized automation without the hurdles or fluff.

What do players think?

potent_dotage ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ It doesn’t have a ton of content (certainly compared to something like Factorio), but there is enough there to sink hundreds of hours into it.

Factory Town

Best for Relaxing Automation

Our Score ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ Microsoft Windows 2019 (early access), 2021 (full release)

Creator/s Erik Asmussen Whimsical aesthetics Metacritic score Tbd

Factory Town

brings a few new things to the factory game genre. Instead of being set in a grim, gritty industrial setting,

Factory Town

is more akin to Stardew Valley than

Factorio

(at least as far as aesthetics go). This is an Early Access game with a planned total of 8 campaign sections you can link together to transport goods.

There aren’t any enemies or combat in this game, so there’s less stress than in some of the other titles in the genre. The simplistic graphics are gentle and charming, too. Linking settlements together is one of the biggest joys to be had here. Building up your settlements is a slow climb that results in full automation… eventually.

Why we chose it

The automation in this game looks and feels more fun than the gritty industrial aesthetics that most games similar to Satisfactory use.

My verdict:

Factory Town

is one of the most lighthearted sandbox games in the factory game genre, perfect for those who prefer a softer setting.

What do players think?

Glidercat ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ It scratches the factory game itch pretty well and a little bit of the city builder itch as well.

Infinifactory

Best for Narrative Intrigue

Our Score ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ PC, PlayStation 4 Creator/s Zachtronics Industries Narrative charm Metacritic score When things work as intended, it’s exciting to behold.

Infinifactory

takes that feeling to the next level with its automation and puzzle-solving mechanics. In this game, you need to satisfy your alien overlords to create factories that work as they are supposed to. If you die in the process, the aliens are understandably displeased.

This light narrative twist makes this game stand out, especially among titles that don’t give much in terms of story. The context of the narrative gives the game flavor and stakes, so it feels a little more human (even if it features aliens). The focus is tighter, and your factories don’t sprawl nearly as much as they do in similar games.

Why we chose it Satisfactory’s automation systems can sprawl quite a bit, but the challenges presented in

Infinifactory

are smaller and more elegant by nature.

My verdict:

Infinifactory

is a tightly focused puzzle game for players who crave a fun, narrative flair with their factory-building games.

What do players think?

_Face ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ I have over a hundred hours, and still haven’t finished my first map.

Nova Lands

Best for Colorful Gameplay

Our Score ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PlayStation 4 Creator/s BEHEMUTT, HypeTrain Digital Island management Metacritic score

Nova Lands

doesn’t offer much in the way of new ideas for automation games, but the unique, colorful setting makes up for it.

It’s a smaller, cozier game than Satisfactory, but it’s a great option if you want to experience the same vibe without too many mechanics.

You’ll still be setting up full production lines, upgrading your technology, and farming resources from the world. There’s so much less stress here, as the object of the game isn’t always to get to the next phase as quickly as possible. Though the gameplay is fast, progression doesn’t have to be.

Why we chose it Here, the loop that you love so much in Satisfactory has been condensed and remade into something a little easier to digest.

My verdict:

Nova Lands

is a fast, colorful game that will look great on some of the best gaming monitors out there. Naturally, it’s extremely engaging for fans who find factory building a little dull.

What do players think?

SlashCo80 ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ The combination of base building, tower defense, combat, story and exploration (and pretty graphics) was just deeply satisfying.

Rise of Industry

Best for Large-Scale Economic Gameplay

Our Score ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ PC Creator/s Dapper Penguin Studios, Kasedo Games Focus on economic strategy Metacritic score If you’ve ever wished Satisfactory had large-scale economic management features,

Rise of Industry

might be the factory-building game for you.

It’s an automation game cleverly wrapped in a business tycoon game, where you manage industrial empires and expand through massive regions.

Decisions happen on a huge stage, and one wrong move can drastically reduce effectiveness. If you’ve spent some time in the genre and want a challenge, Rise of Industry could be the next game you sink hundreds of hours into.

Why we chose it

Rise of Industry

is one of the only factory-building games to feature deeper logistical gameplay than automation, with a focus on macro-level decisions that can make or break your operation.

My verdict:

Large-scale strategy and economic expertise are the name of the game with

Rise of Industry

. It’s a challenge, but nothing can top the feeling you get when things work as intended.