Best Automation games on Steam
Unlike generic lists, our strategy game recommendations use a rigorous analysis of Steam user reviews to identify and feature only the best, community-validated automation games. For those who prefer not to search, lists of the most played, top deals and best free automation games are available at the bottom of the page.
Filters & Lists
Idle Hero TD - Tower Defense
Endless idle tower defense game full of deep strategy and combat mechanics. Unlock and upgrade dozens of epic fantasy heroes to defeat an infinite swarm of enemy monsters. Strategize hero positions, synergies, and skills for an effective defense, then sit back and let the auto-battler do its thing!
FOUNDRY
Build a sophisticated robot factory optimized to perfection in an infinite voxel world. Mine and harvest resources, automate your production lines and manage complex systems while researching your way to become the galaxy’s leading robotics megacorp.
Idle Heros
《IDLE HEROS》 is a special placement game, invite your friends to form a fixed team, come to participate in the battle, placement can easily obtain a variety of resources
XiuzhenWorld
《XiuzhenWorld》is a 3D world where your goal is to level up from a mere mortal into an immortal at the end. Its a semi-idle game with fun immortal cultivation mechanics such as - leveling up to become stronger. - capturing monsters as pets to fight for you. - AFK(Away From Keybourd).
Rusty's Retirement
A relaxing idle-farming simulator that sits at the bottom of your screen while you do other things.
Oddsparks: An Automation Adventure
Oddsparks is a blend of automation and real-time strategy for both the die-hard fans of the automation genre and the automation-curious. Explore a strange fantasy world, uncover the mysteries of the past, automate your workshops, and go on adventures with your odd & adorable Sparks!
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.
Laysara: Summit Kingdom
Build and expand your very own settlements in high mountains! Carefully plan production chains and satisfy various needs of your three-caste society while dealing with mountain hazards such as weather breakdowns and avalanches. Are you skilled enough to make your town thrive?
Center Station Simulator
Mine, farm, manufacture components and build a wide range of machines in an infinite basement. Forget primitive tasks thanks to automation! And sell your products to your customers! Build a parking, a gas station...
Kitchen Crisis
Kitchen Crisis is a culinary defense game. You are abducted by aliens and must satisfy their appetite. If you want to live to see another day, efficiently arrange your cooking appliances, upgrade your ingredients and tools! In order to survive, make wise decisions according to everchaning recipes.
Omega Crafter
Adventure in a vast open-world survival craft game with your programmable sidekick Grammi! Program the Grammi to collect materials, build your town, craft weapons and armor to challenge strong enemies! Play alone or with friends online!
AutoForge
A 2D automation sandbox adventure. Build an automated factory with Mana-powered machines, progress through an expansive tech tree, explore a vast and wonderful world, upgrade yourself with ancient technologies, and defend it all from invasions.
The Magical Mixture Mill
Gather exotic ingredients, brew complex mixtures, and expand your magically automated production lines -- keeping your shelves stocked, your customers happy, and your pockets full.
Outpost: Infinity Siege
Command Mobile Outpost and take XEN Firearm to venture deep into the Signet surveillance off-limit area. Collect unique Weapon Units. Amp up the firepower of the Outpost that fights with you. This is an FTD game - FPS, Tower Defense, Base Building and much more all at the same time.
TerraTech Worlds
TerraTech Worlds is an open world, build-craft adventure game, set on an uncharted alien world. Play solo or with friends, explore your surroundings, craft unique vehicles, construct automated bases, and battle your way through hazards and enemies to harness the power of your environment
Sixty Four
Dive into the world of Sixty Four, where you transform simple machines into a thriving factory.
Rail Route
In Rail Route, you will design, construct, upgrade, and automate your railway network in one of the many maps based on real-life cities worldwide. Dispatch the trains to make the traffic flow and the network grow!
Alpha League
Alpha League is a free-to-play, hero based Auto Chess. In Alpha League, simply pick and build your favorite hero in a Roguelike fashion with 12 different combat genres, and then battle the other 7 Bots or Players to be the winner.
LurkBait Twitch Fishing
A Twitch powered interactive cozy fishing idle game. Add as an overlay for your stream and let your viewers fish with commands, points, bits or subs. Reel in the lurkers and boost viewer engagement passively with a fun interactive game that runs itself while you focus on your content.
Craftomation 101: Programming & Craft
You land on a frozen planet in a tiny rocket with a robot inside. Harvest and combine materials to discover new ones. Use visual programming to make the robot do the tiresome work for you. Slowly build a gang of self-sustaining robot workers and watch them terraform the planet.
CivIdle
CivIdle is an idle/incremental game that allows you to lead your own civilization through thousands of years from ancient times to the modern era. Expand your territory, explore a vast tech tree, build various wonders, and trade with global players: empire must grow and numbers must go up!
River Town Factory
If possible, would you like to go back to ancient times to start a factory, refine oil, or even build a large computer? With the accidental fall of a meteorite, you traveled back to River Town a thousand years ago and became a workshop owner. And the story will begin from here……
Grim Clicker
Grim Clicker is an IDLE/RPG clicker where you will find your own strategy to explore the lost worlds. Inspired by games such as Diablo, Grim Dawn, Dark Souls, etc., the game features a complex character development, many unique items, active and passive playstyle.Most played automation games on Steam
Take a look at the top automation games that are currently attracting the largest player bases on the Steam platform, as of April 30th 2025.
1. 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 is a automation, base-building and resource management game developed and published by Wube Software LTD.. Released on August 14th 2020 has received 213,390 reviews of which 206,974 were positive and 6,416 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.6 out of 10. The game has hit the top spot as the #1 most played automation game, thanks to its 13,456 peak concurrent players over the last day.
9.6
206,974
6,416
13,456
players
2. 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 is a base-building, automation and open world game developed by Coffee Stain Studios and published by Coffee Stain Publishing. Released on September 10th 2024 has received 229,040 reviews of which 222,475 were positive and 6,565 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.6 out of 10. While seeing 12,693 players online at once in the last 24 hours, this game is currently ranked #2 among automation games based on player count.
9.6
222,475
6,565
12,693
players
3. 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 is a automation, space and base-building game developed by Youthcat Studio and published by Gamirror Games. Released on January 20th 2021 has received 84,667 reviews of which 82,683 were positive and 1,984 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.6 out of 10. While seeing 1,702 players online at once in the last 24 hours, this game is currently ranked #3 among automation games based on player count.
9.6
82,683
1,984
1,702
players
4. AdVenture Capitalist
Welcome, eager young investor, to AdVenture Capitalist! Arguably the world's greatest Capitalism simulator! AdVenture Capitalist is a clicker, idler and capitalism game developed and published by Hyper Hippo Games. Released on March 30th 2015 has received 58,982 reviews of which 51,815 were positive and 7,167 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.7 out of 10. With 1,322 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #4 spot among the most played automation games.
8.7
51,815
7,167
1,322
players
5. Mindustry
An open-ended factory management game with RTS and tower defense elements. Mindustry is a base-building, resource management and tower defense game developed and published by AnukenDev. Released on September 26th 2019 has received 21,635 reviews of which 20,742 were positive and 893 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.4 out of 10. With 919 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #5 spot among the most played automation games.
9.4
20,742
893
919
players
6. Trimps
A text-based incremental idle game with a ridiculous amount of unique content. Automate old stuff as you unlock new stuff to keep things interesting for hours and hours, no spam clicking necessary! Trimps is everything you love about your favorite games, distilled to their purest form. Trimps is a idler, strategy and free to play game developed and published by Greensatellite. Released on May 02nd 2022 has received 1,265 reviews of which 1,154 were positive and 111 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.6 out of 10. With 813 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #6 spot among the most played automation games.
8.6
1,154
111
813
players
7. Captain of Industry
Land your crew of survivors on an abandoned island and survive! Mine raw materials, grow food, build factories, manufacture products, research new tech, and trade with others. Become an industrial superpower! But this is no easy task, you will be put to the test to keep your settlement alive. Captain of Industry is a base-building, automation and resource management game developed and published by MaFi Games. Released on May 31st 2022 has received 6,505 reviews of which 6,139 were positive and 366 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.1 out of 10. With 778 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #7 spot among the most played automation games.
9.1
6,139
366
778
players
8. Rusty's Retirement
A relaxing idle-farming simulator that sits at the bottom of your screen while you do other things. Rusty's Retirement is a farming sim, idler and automation game developed and published by Mister Morris Games. Released on April 26th 2024 has received 12,482 reviews of which 12,106 were positive and 376 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.4 out of 10. With 591 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #8 spot among the most played automation games.
9.4
12,106
376
591
players
9. The Perfect Tower II
The Perfect Tower II is a mix between an incremental and a tower defense game. Build a town, manage resources and explore a variety of mini-games and tons of upgrades. Fully automate your game and watch numbers going up! The Perfect Tower II is a strategy, idler and tower defense game developed and published by Fire Sword Studios. Released on February 26th 2021 has received 3,598 reviews of which 3,169 were positive and 429 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.5 out of 10. With 543 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #9 spot among the most played automation games.
8.5
3,169
429
543
players
10. Bitburner
Bitburner is a programming-based incremental game. Write scripts in JavaScript to automate gameplay, learn skills, play minigames, solve puzzles, and more in this cyberpunk text-based incremental RPG. Bitburner is a programming, idler and automation game developed by Fulcrum Games, Hydroflame and over 250 github contributors and published by Fulcrum Games. Released on December 10th 2021 has received 6,560 reviews of which 6,241 were positive and 319 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.2 out of 10. With 508 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #10 spot among the most played automation games.
9.2
6,241
319
508
players
Best deals on automation games on Steam
Discover fantastic savings with the best discounts on a variety of automation games available on Steam right now, updated on April 30th 2025. Looking for even more deals? Use the search filters to explore a wider range of discounted automation games.
1. Last Call BBS
Boot up your Z5 Powerlance and dial into Last Call BBS, the last game from Zachtronics! The Barkeep’s loaded up his retro computer with a full set of puzzle games for you to download and play. No need to worry about copy protection, they’re all fully cracked and ready to enjoy! Last Call BBS is a puzzle, retro and automation game developed and published by Zachtronics. Released on August 03rd 2022 has received 1,384 reviews of which 1,280 were positive and 104 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.8 out of 10. Featuring a massive 95% discount, this game currently holds the #1 spot in the best deals for automation category.
8.8
1,280
104
-95%
20.00€
1.00€
2. Autonauts vs Piratebots
Create, automate and defend an impenetrable base. Assemble and command a Bot army to combat an entire Piratebot invasion. Build, program and battle your way through five different zones. Autonauts vs Piratebots is a simulation, strategy and automation game developed by Denki and published by Curve Games. Released on July 28th 2022 has received 480 reviews of which 380 were positive and 100 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.5 out of 10. Thanks to its incredible 95% discount, this game is now the #2 best deal in automation games.
7.5
380
100
-95%
20.00€
1.00€
3. Autonauts
In Autonauts you must build, create, and automate. Start by establishing a colony, crafting bots and teaching them via Scratch-style programming to build an ever evolving autonomous paradise of agriculture, industry and enlightenment. Autonauts is a simulation, programming and automation game developed by Denki and published by Curve Games. Released on October 17th 2019 has received 4,758 reviews of which 4,258 were positive and 500 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.6 out of 10. Thanks to its incredible 90% discount, this game is now the #3 best deal in automation games.
8.6
4,258
500
-90%
20.60€
2.06€
4. shapez
shapez is an easy-going, minimalistic factory building game about the automation of shapes through extraction and satisfying production lines. Adapt to increasingly complex shapes and grow your factory across an infinitely expanding map. Your only limitation is your creativity! shapez is a automation, base-building and resource management game developed by Tobias Springer and published by tobspr Games and Doyoyo Games. Released on June 07th 2020 has received 13,549 reviews of which 13,038 were positive and 511 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.4 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 88% discount, this title has earned the #4 position in the best deals for automation games.
9.4
13,038
511
-88%
9.83€
1.18€
5. Automachef
Welcome to Automachef, a resource management puzzler where you design kitchens, program machinery and watch your genius come to life! It’s time to engineer tomorrow’s kitchen, today! Automachef is a simulation, indie and automation game developed by Rhombico Games and published by Team17 Digital Ltd. Released on July 23rd 2019 has received 860 reviews of which 619 were positive and 241 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.9 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 86% discount, this title has earned the #5 position in the best deals for automation games.
6.9
619
241
-86%
15.21€
2.13€
6. Return from Core
Dig, explore, build, farm, automate, and meet charming Monster Girls in this sandbox RPG. Build your camp, plant crops, set up automated production lines and prepare for an unforgettable adventure! Return from Core is a crafting, survival and automation game developed by Tanxun Studio and published by 2P Games and Shochiku. Released on December 15th 2023 has received 993 reviews of which 733 were positive and 260 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.1 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 63% discount, this title has earned the #6 position in the best deals for automation games.
7.1
733
260
-63%
16.46€
6.09€
7. Mindustry
An open-ended factory management game with RTS and tower defense elements. Mindustry is a base-building, resource management and tower defense game developed and published by AnukenDev. Released on September 26th 2019 has received 21,635 reviews of which 20,742 were positive and 893 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.4 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 60% discount, this title has earned the #7 position in the best deals for automation games.
9.4
20,742
893
-60%
9.99€
3.99€
8. SHENZHEN I/O
BUILD CIRCUITS. WRITE CODE. RTFM. SHENZHEN I/O is a programming, automation and puzzle game developed and published by Zachtronics. Released on November 17th 2016 has received 4,137 reviews of which 3,934 were positive and 203 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.1 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 58% discount, this title has earned the #8 position in the best deals for automation games.
9.1
3,934
203
-58%
14.69€
6.17€
9. The Crust
Automate a lunar base as you become the savior of humanity exploring the future on the moon. Mine, craft, research, and trade resources with Earth in this gripping narrative basebuilder. The Crust is a early access, base-building and space game developed by VEOM Studio and published by Crytivo. Released on July 15th 2024 has received 2,521 reviews of which 1,944 were positive and 577 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.5 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 52% discount, this title has earned the #9 position in the best deals for automation games.
7.5
1,944
577
-52%
29.15€
13.99€
10. Astro Colony
Explore endless Universe and create the most efficient constellation of colonies. Build conveyor systems to automate production. Take care of Astronauts and their needs! Establish new colonies as part of intergalactic simulation. Astro Colony is a base-building, automation and early access game developed and published by Terad Games. Released on November 07th 2022 has received 2,223 reviews of which 1,828 were positive and 395 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.9 out of 10. Currently offered at a 50% discount, this title has earned the #10 position in the best deals for automation games.
7.9
1,828
395
-50%
19.50€
9.75€
Free automation games on Steam
Check out this fantastic list of free-to-play automation games you can enjoy on Steam right now, updated on April 30th 2025. Looking for even more free titles? Use the search filters to explore a wider range of free to play automation games.
1. AdVenture Capitalist
Welcome, eager young investor, to AdVenture Capitalist! Arguably the world's greatest Capitalism simulator! AdVenture Capitalist is a clicker, idler and capitalism game developed and published by Hyper Hippo Games. Released on March 30th 2015 has received 58,982 reviews of which 51,815 were positive and 7,167 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.7 out of 10. With 1,322 active players enjoying it for free, this strategy game has reached the #1 spot among the top free automation games on Steam.
8.7
51,815
7,167
1,322
players
2. Trimps
A text-based incremental idle game with a ridiculous amount of unique content. Automate old stuff as you unlock new stuff to keep things interesting for hours and hours, no spam clicking necessary! Trimps is everything you love about your favorite games, distilled to their purest form. Trimps is a idler, strategy and free to play game developed and published by Greensatellite. Released on May 02nd 2022 has received 1,265 reviews of which 1,154 were positive and 111 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.6 out of 10. Thanks to its free to play tag and a daily player base of 813, this automation game has secured the #2 spot in the ranking of free automation games on Steam.
8.6
1,154
111
813
players
3. The Perfect Tower II
The Perfect Tower II is a mix between an incremental and a tower defense game. Build a town, manage resources and explore a variety of mini-games and tons of upgrades. Fully automate your game and watch numbers going up! The Perfect Tower II is a strategy, idler and tower defense game developed and published by Fire Sword Studios. Released on February 26th 2021 has received 3,598 reviews of which 3,169 were positive and 429 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.5 out of 10. Thanks to its free to play tag and a daily player base of 543, this automation game has secured the #3 spot in the ranking of free automation games on Steam.
8.5
3,169
429
543
players
4. Bitburner
Bitburner is a programming-based incremental game. Write scripts in JavaScript to automate gameplay, learn skills, play minigames, solve puzzles, and more in this cyberpunk text-based incremental RPG. Bitburner is a programming, idler and automation game developed by Fulcrum Games, Hydroflame and over 250 github contributors and published by Fulcrum Games. Released on December 10th 2021 has received 6,560 reviews of which 6,241 were positive and 319 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.2 out of 10. Attracting a solid base of 508 players due to its free access, this strategy game has achieved the #4 position in the best free automation games on Steam.
9.2
6,241
319
508
players
5. Alpha League
Alpha League is a free-to-play, hero based Auto Chess. In Alpha League, simply pick and build your favorite hero in a Roguelike fashion with 12 different combat genres, and then battle the other 7 Bots or Players to be the winner. Alpha League is a auto battler, turn-based tactics and roguelite game developed and published by Beaveroid Entertainment. Released on February 22nd 2024 has received 1,229 reviews of which 1,031 were positive and 198 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.0 out of 10. Attracting a solid base of 257 players due to its free access, this strategy game has achieved the #5 position in the best free automation games on Steam.
8.0
1,031
198
257
players
6. CivIdle
CivIdle is an idle/incremental game that allows you to lead your own civilization through thousands of years from ancient times to the modern era. Expand your territory, explore a vast tech tree, build various wonders, and trade with global players: empire must grow and numbers must go up! CivIdle is a early access, idler and base building game developed by FishPond and published by Fish Pond Studio. Released on February 16th 2024 has received 606 reviews of which 456 were positive and 150 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.2 out of 10. Attracting a solid base of 231 players due to its free access, this strategy game has achieved the #6 position in the best free automation games on Steam.
7.2
456
150
231
players
7. Incremental Adventures
Lead your heroes in their neverending adventures! A minimalistic Idle game where combat is fully automated. It's up to you to make the most of that automation to reach extremely high numbers! Incremental Adventures is a idler, automation and text-based game developed and published by Gniller. Released on August 11th 2020 has received 774 reviews of which 605 were positive and 169 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.4 out of 10. Attracting a solid base of 109 players due to its free access, this strategy game has achieved the #7 position in the best free automation games on Steam.
7.4
605
169
109
players
8. Industry Idle
Industry Idle is an idle game that combines factory building, resource management and market trading. Design & build your base, expand & scale up your productions, improve & optimize your economy. Plus all the incremental game goodies: offline earnings, prestige to unlock more powerful upgrades. Industry Idle is a automation, idler and resource management game developed by FishPond and published by Fish Pond Studio. Released on September 13th 2024 has received 1,354 reviews of which 1,054 were positive and 300 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.5 out of 10. The game currently holds the #8 spot among the most played free automation games on Steam.
7.5
1,054
300
51
players
9. Prospector: The First Contract
As the Prospector in this Prologue chapter, you will be taking on your first contract. Explore new planets, gather resources, build your fully automated base, and ship materials to distant colonies. Prospector: The First Contract is a open world survival craft, sandbox and survival game developed by Loonworks Games and published by HypeTrain Digital. Released on July 12th 2024 has received 496 reviews of which 457 were positive and 39 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.6 out of 10. The game currently holds the #9 spot among the most played free automation games on Steam.
8.6
457
39
1
players