Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Minetest VS Factorio

Compare Minetest VS Factorio and see what are their differences

Minetest logo Minetest

Minetest is a near-infinite-world block sandbox game and a game engine, inspired by InfiniMiner...

Factorio logo Factorio

Factorio is an Addictive, Action, Real-time Strategy, Survival, Management, Top-down, Co-op, Single and Multiplayer video game developed and published by Wube Software Ltd.
  • Minetest Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-06-29
  • Factorio Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-05-03

Minetest features and specs

  • Open Source
    Minetest is released under the LGPL, allowing users to modify and distribute the game freely.
  • Moddable
    Minetest has extensive modding support, enabling users to create and share custom content and features easily.
  • Cross-Platform
    Minetest is available on several operating systems including Windows, Linux, macOS, and Android.
  • Low System Requirements
    Minetest can run on older or less powerful hardware, making it accessible to a wider audience.
  • Community-Driven
    The game benefits from a strong, active community that contributes to the game's development and content creation.

Possible disadvantages of Minetest

  • Graphical Limitations
    While functional, the game's graphics and textures are less polished compared to similar games like Minecraft.
  • User Experience
    The user interface and overall game polish can be lacking, which may deter new users who expect a more refined experience.
  • Content Variability
    The quality and stability of user-created mods can vary greatly, leading to potential inconsistencies in the gameplay experience.
  • Less Mainstream
    Minetest is less well-known than other voxel games like Minecraft, which can affect the size of the player base and community.
  • Limited Tutorials
    There are fewer tutorials and learning resources available compared to more popular games, which can make getting started more challenging.

Factorio features and specs

  • Complexity and Depth
    Factorio offers complex gameplay with a high degree of depth. Players have to manage resources, create efficient assembly lines, and optimize logistics, providing a mentally stimulating experience for those who enjoy strategic planning and problem-solving.
  • Mod Support
    The game has extensive mod support, which allows players to customize their gameplay experience. The modding community adds new features, improves performance, and creates new challenges, extending the game's lifespan and replayability.
  • Cooperative Multiplayer
    Factorio supports cooperative multiplayer mode, allowing you to team up with friends to build factories together. This adds a social and collaborative element to the game, enhancing the overall experience.
  • Endless Replayability
    With procedural map generation, a variety of technological upgrades, and nearly infinite ways to optimize and expand your factory, each playthrough can be very different, making the game highly replayable.
  • Educational Value
    Factorio teaches about logistical management, efficiency optimization, and operations research concepts in an engaging way, offering educational benefits while being entertaining.

Possible disadvantages of Factorio

  • Steep Learning Curve
    Factorio can be difficult for new players to grasp due to its complex systems and mechanics. The game does not always provide clear guidance, which might be overwhelming for beginners.
  • Time-Consuming
    Due to the game's complexity and depth, it can become very time-consuming. Players might find themselves spending a lot of time planning and experimenting, which might not be suitable for those with limited time.
  • Potential for Frustration
    As the game becomes more complex, maintaining the factory can become stressful. This can lead to frustration if things do not go according to plan or if resources are not managed well.
  • Graphical Simplicity
    Factorio's graphics are functional but not particularly advanced or visually stunning. Players who prioritize high-quality graphics might not find the visual style appealing.
  • Addictive Gameplay
    The engaging and challenging nature of Factorio can lead to highly addictive gameplay. While some players enjoy this aspect, it might not be suitable for those who prefer games that allow for more casual play sessions.

Analysis of Minetest

Overall verdict

  • Minetest is a good option for players who enjoy sandbox games and are interested in a community-driven, mod-friendly environment. It provides a robust platform for creativity and exploration, especially for those who appreciate the flexibility of open-source software.

Why this product is good

  • Minetest is a free and open-source sandbox game that offers players a vast and customizable world to explore and build in. It is praised for its modding capabilities, allowing users to create and share custom content, and for its low hardware requirements, making it accessible to players with older computers. The game encourages creativity and collaboration among players, and its open-source nature means the community can continuously improve and expand the game.

Recommended for

  • Players who enjoy sandbox and creation-based games.
  • Individuals interested in modding and game development.
  • Users with older or less powerful computers.
  • Fans of community-driven and open-source projects.

Minetest videos

Minetest | Free Minecraft Like Open Source Game | Download | Servers | Mods | Showcase Review

More videos:

  • Review - Minetest | Free Alternative to Minecraft
  • Review - Minetest 5.0 Release Video (Unofficial)

Factorio videos

Factorio Review

More videos:

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Minetest and Factorio)
Games
77 77%
23% 23
Block-building Games
100 100%
0% 0
RTS
0 0%
100% 100
2D Simulator
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using Minetest and Factorio. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Factorio should be more popular than Minetest. It has been mentiond 61 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Minetest mentions (12)

  • Custom game handler wont extract
    I downloaded the minecraft java edition game handler and modified the .js file to fit my game (minetest) before zipping it again and renaming the .zip file to .nc. Now when I want to extract the newly created handler to connect it to the game binary, it gets stuck at 100% extracting. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Let's get our build on!
    Get your building and mining hats on and join us on PAW Minetest. Download at https://minetest.net and connect to PAW Crypto Mine Server. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Test
    All answer you need is on https://minetest.net. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Play To Earn
    All you need to do is download Minetest on your phone or computer at https://minetest.net/ , install, connect to the PAW Crypto Mine Server, and start playing. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Thanks microsoft, everything you touch turns to corporate bullshit :/
    If it helps any check out minetest.net, a free open-source minecraft-like game that has many servers and mods to play with. Source: almost 3 years ago
View more

Factorio mentions (61)

  • Ask HN: What's the most creative 'useless' program you've ever written?
    The Factorio (1) website has something like that - scroll down to the bottom and click on the rocket ship. 1: https://factorio.com/. - Source: Hacker News / 8 months ago
  • Why wont the demo for factorio appear for my friend? We tried searching for it, checking the games DLC's and extended stuff, on steam and we couldnt find it. Is there a reason for this? Like some obscure filter?
    Or just get it from the website since there is no multiplayer in the demo anyways so there is little reason to run it from steam. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • What modern game has this type of graphical aesthetic? (Taken from the steam summer sale)
    Factorio (Steam page) (Warning can be addictive). Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Games for a Steam Deck/ROG Ally
    Factorio just got an update with controller support yesterday. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • New multiplayer character after account creation
    I made an account on factorio.com to download mods there and linked it. The issue was, that I was recognized as another character now, so I didn't get any achievements (you have to participate at least 50% of the time to get any). Source: almost 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Minetest and Factorio, you can also consider the following products

Minecraft - A block-building game that allows you to create and explore entire worlds from scratch.

shapez.io - shapez.io is a fun factory base building game about combining shapes

Terraria - Dig, Fight, Build! The very world is at your fingertips as you fight for survival, fortune, and glory.

SatisFactory - Feedback collection and management software

Roblox - Reimagining the way people come together.

Stationeers - Stationeers comes with a blend of Open World Survival, Space Exploration, and Single-player video game developed and published by RocketWerkz for PC.