Best Automation Games on Steam

Steam currently has 1,772 Automation games available to download and play. Explore our list of the best picks ranked by Player Score. Our Player Score rankings are calculated directly from reviews left on the Steam store and will be updated in real-time as more players leave their feedback. Automation game rankings were last updated on 3/7/2026.

Looking for more? Explore other lists such as:

1. Schedule I

From small-time dope pusher to kingpin - manufacture and distribute a range of drugs throughout the grungy city of Hyland Point. Expand your empire with properties, businesses, employees and more.

Schedule I banner

Schedule I holds the #1 spot for "best Automation game on Steam" with a Player Score of 97. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 282,141 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 276,309 positive reviews and 5,832 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $19.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Schedule I on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).

Steam Price $19.99
Release Date 3/24/2025
Developer TVGS
Publisher TVGS
Steam App Id 3164500

2. Factorio

Factorio is a game about building and creating automated factories to produce items of increasing complexity, within an infinite 2D world. Use your imagination to design your factory, combine simple elements into ingenious structures, and finally protect it from the creatures who don't really like you.

Factorio banner

Factorio has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #2 spot for the best Automation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 225,896 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 220,212 positive reviews and 5,684 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $35.00 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.

Steam Price $35.00
Release Date 8/14/2020
Developer Wube Software LTD.
Publisher Wube Software LTD.
Steam App Id 427520

3. Satisfactory

Satisfactory is a first-person open-world factory building game with a dash of exploration and combat. Play alone or with friends, explore an alien planet, create multi-story factories, and enter conveyor belt heaven!

Satisfactory banner

Satisfactory has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #3 spot for the best Automation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 262,307 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 255,070 positive reviews and 7,237 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $27.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.

Steam Price $27.99
Release Date 9/10/2024
Franchise Coffee Stain
Developer Coffee Stain Studios
Publisher Coffee Stain Publishing
Steam App Id 526870

4. Dyson Sphere Program

Build the most efficient intergalactic factory in space simulation strategy game Dyson Sphere Program! Harness the power of stars, collect resources, plan and design production lines and develop your interstellar factory from a small space workshop to a galaxy-wide industrial empire.

Dyson Sphere Program banner

Dyson Sphere Program has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #4 spot for the best Automation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 89,709 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 87,500 positive reviews and 2,209 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $19.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Dyson Sphere Program on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).

Steam Price $19.99
Release Date 1/20/2021
Developer Youthcat Studio
Publishers
Steam App Id 1366540

5. shapez 2

Dive into a factory-building game with the focus on just that – building huge space factories! Design sprawling multi-level factories and satisfying production lines without limits. Tackle progressively challenging automation goals at your own pace, without the threat of enemies.

shapez 2 banner

shapez 2 has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #5 spot for the best Automation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 13,104 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 12,809 positive reviews and 295 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $29.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play shapez 2 on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).

Steam Price $29.99
Release Date 8/15/2024
Franchise tobspr Games
Developer tobspr Games
Publishers
Steam App Id 2162800

6. The Planet Crafter

A space survival open world terraforming crafting game, designed for 1 to 10 players. Alter the ecosystem of an inhospitable planet to render it habitable for humanity. Survive, gather resources, and build your base. Then, generate oxygen, warmth, and pressure to create a brand new biosphere.

The Planet Crafter banner

The Planet Crafter has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #6 spot for the best Automation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 66,462 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 63,813 positive reviews and 2,649 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $14.39 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.

Steam Price $14.39
Release Date 4/10/2024
Developer Miju Games
Publisher Miju Games
Steam App Id 1284190

7. Rusty's Retirement

A relaxing idle-farming simulator that sits at the bottom of your screen while you do other things.

Rusty's Retirement banner

Rusty's Retirement has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #7 spot for the best Automation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 14,324 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 13,873 positive reviews and 451 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $6.99 to play and can be played and ran on both Windows and Mac systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Rusty's Retirement on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).

Steam Price $6.99
Release Date 4/26/2024
Developer Mister Morris Games
Publisher Mister Morris Games
Steam App Id 2666510

8. Opus Magnum

Opus Magnum is the latest open-ended puzzle game from Zachtronics, the creators of SpaceChem, Infinifactory, and SHENZHEN I/O. Design and build machines that assemble potions, poisons, and more using the alchemical engineer’s most advanced tool: the transmutation engine!

Opus Magnum banner

Opus Magnum has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #8 spot for the best Automation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 6,492 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 6,320 positive reviews and 172 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $19.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Opus Magnum on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).

Steam Price $19.99
Release Date 12/7/2017
Franchise Zachtronics
Developer Zachtronics
Publisher Zachtronics
Steam App Id 558990

9. Timberborn

Humans are long gone. In a world struck by droughts and toxic waste, will your lumberpunk beavers do any better? A sandbox city-building game featuring ingenious animals, vertical architecture, water physics, and terraforming. Contains high amounts of wood.

Timberborn banner

Timberborn has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #9 spot for the best Automation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 35,995 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 34,530 positive reviews and 1,465 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $34.99 to play and can be played and ran on both Windows and Mac systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Timberborn on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).

Steam Price $34.99
Release Date 9/15/2021
Developer Mechanistry
Publisher Mechanistry
Steam App Id 1062090

10. Mindustry

An open-ended factory management game with RTS and tower defense elements.

Mindustry banner

Mindustry has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #10 spot for the best Automation games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 24,875 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 23,853 positive reviews and 1,022 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.

It is priced at $9.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Mindustry on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).

Steam Price $9.99
Release Date 9/26/2019
Developer AnukenDev
Publisher AnukenDev
Steam App Id 1127400

More Automation Games

Explore even more rankings for the 100 best Automation games available on Steam.

ImageName
Actions
Schedule I steam charts
18,196
3/24/2025
97
$19.99
Steam Charts
Factorio steam charts
16,615
8/14/2020
96
$35.00
Steam Charts
Satisfactory steam charts
19,794
9/10/2024
96
$27.99
Steam Charts
Dyson Sphere Program steam charts
4,026
1/20/2021
96
$19.99
Steam Charts
shapez 2 steam charts
557
8/15/2024
95
$29.99
Steam Charts
The Planet Crafter steam charts
3,732
4/10/2024
94
$14.39
Steam Charts
Rusty's Retirement steam charts
406
4/26/2024
94
$6.99
Steam Charts
Opus Magnum steam charts
399
12/7/2017
94
$19.99
Steam Charts
Timberborn steam charts
4,335
9/15/2021
94
$34.99
Steam Charts
Mindustry steam charts
478
9/26/2019
94
$9.99
Steam Charts
The Planet Crafter: Prologue steam charts
28
12/19/2021
94
Free
Steam Charts
shapez steam charts
401
6/7/2020
93
$9.99
Steam Charts
Outpath: First Journey steam charts
4
12/17/2022
93
Free
Steam Charts
Palworld steam charts
29,847
1/19/2024
93
$29.99
Steam Charts
The Farmer Was Replaced steam charts
444
10/10/2025
93
$9.99
Steam Charts
Dwarf Fortress steam charts
893
12/6/2022
93
$29.99
Steam Charts
TIS-100 steam charts
19
7/20/2015
93
$6.99
Steam Charts
Against the Storm steam charts
1,540
12/8/2023
93
$8.99
Steam Charts
Cornerpond steam charts
177
4/21/2025
93
$2.99
Steam Charts
Turing Complete steam charts
136
10/2/2021
93
$19.99
Steam Charts
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Soures & References

Steambase has best-in-class data powered directly by Steam, our data partners, and in-house experts. Reviews and rankings are enriched, analyzed, and updated in real-time to ensure we surface the most up-to-date insights. Learn more about the Steambase approach to data collection and our review methodology.

  • Valve Corporation. (2026, March 7). Steam Store. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2026, March 7). Schedule I on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2026, February 25). Factorio on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2026, March 7). Satisfactory on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2026, February 27). Dyson Sphere Program on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2026, March 6). shapez 2 on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2026, March 2). The Planet Crafter on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2026, March 3). Rusty's Retirement on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2026, March 6). Opus Magnum on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2026, March 6). Timberborn on Steam. Steam Store.
  • Valve Corporation. (2026, March 7). Mindustry on Steam. Steam Store.

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