Factory-building games offer a unique thrill, combining creativity, strategy, and automation into an addictive experience. We’re taking a look at the best factory-building games, where you’ll manage complex production lines, defend your empire, and explore alien worlds.
Table of Contents
Factorio
Let’s kick off our list with one of THE staples of the base building and automation genre: Factorio. Released in 2020, it’s the ultimate game for anyone who loves the thrill of building, tweaking, and defending their industrial empire. What starts as humble beginnings – chopping down trees and making conveyor belts by hand – quickly escalates into a massive, automated production powerhouse. Everything can be automated to the point where you hardly lift a finger.
But with great industrial power comes great responsibility, as the local wildlife isn’t too keen on your relentless expansion. Prepare for intense battles as you defend your growing empire. But what really makes Factorio shine is its infinite depth. Every session feels like a new challenge, even after hundreds (or thousands) of hours. It’s one of the best factory-building games we’ve ever played. The smooth controls, clever mechanics, and ever-growing list of mods keep us coming back for more.
Satisfactory
The recent 1.0 release of Satisfactory made us eager to pick it up again, and we weren’t disappointed! That’s not surprising since the developer is none other than Coffee Stain Studios. In a vast alien world, your sole mission is to build the most efficient, sprawling factory the universe has ever seen. Construct towering structures and dominate the landscape, using the planet’s natural resources to fuel your industrial empire. The world is huge, and you’re free to build wherever you want.
Automate everything. Build conveyor belts that snake through mountains and transport resources with trucks, trains, or even drones. Explore and exploit the alien terrain. Whether you’re driving a truck or flying with a jetpack, the world is full of secrets and resources to uncover. With endless customization options, a vast world to conquer, and the ever-present urge to tweak, Satisfactory offers a unique, almost zen-like experience. But be warned, you may lose track of time!
shapez 2
Four years after the release of shapez, the factory-building game shapez 2 has been released in Early Access. This top-down game is all about building massive, multi-layered factories with no limits. The goal? Masterfully automate the transformation of simple geometric shapes into complex designs.
The beauty of shapez 2 lies in its balance of complexity and relaxation. No time limits. No enemies. Resources are infinite, so you can endlessly delete, redesign, and rebuild without penalty. shapez 2 may not be for the ultra-hardcore factory simulation crowd, but for anyone looking for a chill, puzzle-focused factory experience that’s all about creativity and improvement, this game is an absolute gem.
Little Big Workshop
If you’re looking for something a little more casual than what you’ve seen so far, try the colorful indie game Little Big Workshop. Imagine a whimsical workshop where your hardworking employees create everything from rubber ducks to electric guitars. As the Big Boss, you’ll manage a bustling factory floor, juggling machines and coordinating your team to meet the ever-changing demands of your customers.
Design efficient production lines to churn out over 50 unique products made from a variety of materials. The game may seem cute, but the challenge quickly ramps up, requiring strategic thinking and quick decision-making. Little Big Workshop is more of a management and simulation game than a pure factory-building game, but we still think it’s a good time for fans of the genre.
FOUNDRY
If Factorio and Minecraft had a baby, it would probably look like FOUNDRY. This Early Access title sends you to a mysterious, unexplored planet where you build a sprawling automated factory. Guided by your AI buddy Carl, you’ll move from hands-on resource mining to managing an intricately optimized production line, building everything from towering machines to complex conveyor belt networks.
The freedom to build wherever your imagination takes you is a game changer. Sculpt the landscape block by block as you explore vibrant, fully destructible environments. The satisfying gameplay loop is reminiscent of Factorio and Satisfactory, and the game offers a chilling yet engaging experience for both genre veterans and newcomers alike. We believe FOUNDRY is one of the best factory-building games of 2024 so far.
Captain of Industry
In Captain of Industry, you lead a small group of resilient survivors as they transform an uncharted island into a thriving industrial hub. As your settlement grows, delve into advanced technologies, trade with neighboring islands, and even dream of launching your own space program! This game offers a rich tapestry of over 150 unique products to discover, ensuring that every playthrough feels fresh and engaging.
The logistics systems are a game changer, allowing you to automate resource delivery with trucks that can be upgraded and expanded as your empire flourishes. The ability to terraform your surroundings adds a strategic twist, allowing you to shape the landscape to suit your ambitions. The gameplay is addictive, and Captain of Industry is constantly evolving! The developers are committed to improving the experience and actively engaging with the community.
The Riftbreaker
If you like your factory-building games with a dash of tower defense gameplay mixed with some RPG and survival elements, The Riftbreaker is perfect for you. Step into the boots of Captain Ashley S. Nowak, an elite scientist equipped with the cutting-edge mecha suit known as “Mr. Riggs.” Travel through a one-way portal to Galatea 37, a mysterious planet on the edge of the Milky Way, and establish a base that will pave the way for humanity’s colonization of this alien world.
As you gather resources, research groundbreaking technologies, and fortify your defenses, hostile creatures lurk around every corner. Prepare for relentless waves of enemies as you expand your industry and disrupt the natural order of Galatea 37. What really sets The Riftbreaker apart is its addictive survival mode. The amount of content is astounding, and the soundtrack makes every battle feel epic.
Factory Town
Factory Town is all about building, automating, and perfecting a sprawling factory in a 3D landscape. You’ll harness the power of conveyor belts, trains, chutes, pipes, and even airships to keep production running smoothly. Your mission? Supply nearby villages with everything from food to magical artifacts, expanding their borders and unlocking new technology along the way. With no enemies or threats to derail your plans, the focus is purely on logistics.
You can shape the terrain, create custom maps, and even use Steam Workshop to add your own twists. Factory Town strikes the perfect balance between accessibility and depth, with enough complexity to keep things interesting without overwhelming you. Plus, the cute visuals and unobtrusive music make for a relaxing yet rewarding logistics puzzle that rivals the best in the genre.
Dyson Sphere Program
The next game on our list of the best factory-building games takes you into space and lets you build an intergalactic factory! You start with a tiny workshop in the vastness of space and build it into an efficient industrial powerhouse. As a space engineer working for COSMO, you’ll shape the future of humanity by powering a supercomputer called CentreBrain. Each universe is unique, filled with celestial wonders like black holes and neutron stars, giving you new challenges and opportunities to explore.
One of the best parts is how creative you can get. You have complete freedom to design your Dyson Spheres, from the smallest details of their structure to how they layer around the star. With a chill soundtrack and the backdrop of the quiet universe, Dyson Sphere Program offers both strategy and serenity. If you’re ready to think big, like galaxy big, this is the game for you.
Honorable Mention
There’s one more game we’d like to recommend, and that’s the 2023 release Techtonica. We’ve already covered it in our blog about the best simulation games, so head over there and check it out!
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Even the best factory-building games can have some dull moments, or maybe just some aspects you wish you could change. That’s where PLITCH comes in! We offer codes for all the games on this list and over 4,900 other single-player PC games.
Want unlimited fuel for your powerplant or jetpack in Satisfactory? Got it! More items or infinite ammo in Factorio? Done. Just use our mods to make your games as easy or as hard as you want!
To learn more about PLITCH, check out this blog and our YouTube channel.
Happy Gaming!
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