Factorio and Satisfactory: Differences & Similarities

Satisfactory advanced to this year's surprise hit in 2019, while Factorio has been around for longer. Nevertheless, both titles are often mentioned in the same sentence. We take a look at the differences and similarities.

Partly similar, partly very different: Satisfactory is by no means a Factorio copy.

Looking for a computer game that's all about increasingly complicated production processes? Then Factorio and Satisfactory are worth a close look.

Factorio and Satisfactory: Related in spirit, foreign in practice

The core of the game principle is very similar in both games:

• You build up a factory or massive production chains and optimize them more and more.
• In this process you need more and more space and need advanced parts - the complexity is constantly increasing and this provides the challenge. This you must systematically address.

Factorio and Satisfactory thus address the same player base at heart, also the path to success is quite comparable. Nevertheless, there are major differences in the implementation:

• First of all, the technology: Thanks to the Unreal 4 Engine, Satisfactory is a full 3D title with a glossy look. This has an effect on gameplay, controls and atmosphere. Factorio, on the other hand, uses a much simpler framework: You control the action from a 2D perspective, and the graphics are very simple. Here, it's less about design and ambience, and more about focus and overview.
• In terms of complexity, Factorio consequently goes even deeper.
• And while you only have to fight sporadic alien creatures in Satisfactory, attacks on your assets are firmly part of the gameplay in Factorio.

However, it's precisely these fundamental differences that are a good thing, as you can play both titles and get a very unique gaming experience in each.