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Squirrel's Pick Squirrel's PickThe best game on this page. If you only try one, try this.
AutomationBase-BuildingAdventure
$9.99 ~26.1 hr median no co-op 89.2% of 3k
The Squirrel's verdictNova Lands keeps automation central: you build machines to handle mining, crafting, and logistics instead of manually running every task, same as Autonauts. The difference is method — no robot programming, just placed automation, exploration, and combat across procedural islands. Median playtime runs 26 hours, rated Very Positive at $9.99.
Not for you if you expect Autonauts' robot-programming puzzle, or you're uneasy with default-on data collection reviewers say is hard to opt out of.
2
Hidden Gem Hidden GemLoved by the players who found it, but still under the radar.
AutomationBase-BuildingCrafting
$4.99 ~31 hr median no co-op complexity: moderate 90.4% of 250
The Squirrel's verdictAssembly Planter's defining mechanic is a Shrinker tool that lets you build recursive miniaturized factories, forcing space-optimization puzzles that Autonauts never demands. Automation here runs through conveyors and custom machines across a structured 20-level campaign rather than a programming system or open sandbox. At $4.99 with a Very Positive rating, it suits players who want a short, cheap, concept-driven automation game.
Not for you if UI friction is a dealbreaker for you — multiple reviewers describe fighting the inventory controls as reason enough to quit.
3
Hidden Gem Hidden GemLoved by the players who found it, but still under the radar.
GLADIABOTS - AI Combat Arena
PCMacLinux
Artificial IntelligenceCompetitivePvE
$14.99 ~17.6 hr median no co-op 88.7% of 897
The Squirrel's verdictGladiabots is built around designing behavior-tree AI for combat robots in arena battles — the same design-over-direct-play logic Autonauts uses, but applied to PvP rather than economy tasks. Single-player amounts to a tutorial; the real challenge comes from asynchronous multiplayer against other players' bots. A mandatory external account is required to access that multiplayer layer.
Not for you if you have no interest in competitive play against strangers, or microtransactions are a dealbreaker for you.
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Budget Pick Budget PickThe best game here for the least money.
CraftingIncrementalResource Management
$6.99 ~13.5 hr median no co-op complexity: light 86.8% of 1k
The Squirrel's verdictLike Autonauts, Forage Wizard moves you from manual resource gathering into automating those same tasks. Automation caps early, though, and late-game items require heavy manual clicking that many reviewers call a grind, unlike Autonauts' programmable-bot depth carrying through the whole run. It's $6.99, Very Positive rated, with median playtime near 13.5 hours.
Not for you if you want automation depth to scale into the late game rather than fall back into manual clicking grind
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Procedural GenerationAutomationBase-Building
$29.99 ~51.3 hr median co-op complexity: moderate 83.6% of 2k
The Squirrel's verdictOddsparks keeps Autonauts' core idea: assign creatures to gather, craft, and move goods instead of building conveyor belts by hand. It adds exploration, light combat, and co-op play on top of the automation loop. Reviews describe the automation itself as shallower than Factorio-style games, with paid DLC arriving after the 1.0 release.
Not for you if you want Factorio-level automation depth or dislike paid DLC arriving after the 1.0 release.
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Closest Match Closest MatchThe most similar game to the anchor, by what players say.
Craftomation 101: Programming & Craft
PCMacLinux
EducationProgrammingAutomation
$9.99 ~10.1 hr median no co-op 85.3% of 633
The Squirrel's verdictCraftomation 101 shares Autonauts' core loop: teaching robots to gather, craft, and repeat tasks instead of laying conveyor belts. Programming is visual drag-and-drop rather than Autonauts' record-and-replay system. It's smaller in scope, with a median playtime around 10 hours, suited to players who want a shorter, kid-friendly introduction to the same automation-by-robot idea.
Not for you if you need loops, arrays, or long-form automation puzzles — reviews note the visual programming lacks iteration and requires constant manual bonfire refueling.
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AutomationProgrammingBase-Building
$29.99 ~58.4 hr median co-op complexity: heavy 79.9% of 2k
The Squirrel's verdictDesynced shares Autonauts' core loop: you program units to perform tasks rather than hand-place conveyors like Factorio. It adds the warfare and RTS layer that Autonauts split off into a separate game, plus co-op play. Behavior scripting runs deeper, but reviewers report it's inconsistently documented, and built-in unit functions often make scripting optional rather than necessary.
Not for you if you need a clear, well-documented tutorial and want pure automation without RTS combat or heavy micromanagement mixed in.
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Open WorldAutomationSurvival
$24.99 ~16.4 hr median co-op 79.2% of 571
The Squirrel's verdictOmega Crafter asks you to program bots to handle gathering and crafting, then immediately sets those automated bases against biomes, world bosses, and survival pressure. Managing exploration, combat, and base defense runs alongside the scripting loop rather than being separate from it. Co-op is supported. Reviews note the combat and world variety are weaker than the automation side.
Not for you if you want pure automation puzzles without survival mechanics, boss fights, or open-world exploration woven in.