Deal | Factory building on an alien planet: Automation game is free on Steam for a limited time

In FOUNDRY, players control a robot stranded on an unexplored, procedurally generated voxel planet filled with jungles, mountains and plains. Under the guidance of the AI Carl, they begin building an automated factory that steadily grows in scale and complexity. The goal is to mine resources, set up production chains, research new technologies and gradually turn the industrial site into a perfectly optimized megafactory.

In terms of gameplay, FOUNDRY combines automation, base building and resource management from a first-person perspective. Players extract raw materials, place machines, lay conveyor belts, build power grids and link production lines. Unlike in many competing games, the voxel world can be freely reshaped: factories can expand underground, across the surface or vertically into the sky. Later on, research, modular buildings, decorations, trading mechanics and the expansion of a space station add further layers. The game can be played solo or in co-op.

FOUNDRY currently has around 3,600 user reviews on Steam, 81% of which are positive. Players particularly praise the strong automation mechanics, the addictive gameplay loop and the freely reshapeable voxel world. The game is also frequently described as a blend of Minecraft, Satisfactory and Factorio. However, many players do not yet see FOUNDRY as being on the same level as those genre heavyweights. Criticism mainly targets the cumbersome UI, somewhat clunky logistics and grindy mid- and late-game phases.

FOUNDRY was developed by Channel 3 Entertainment and published by Paradox Interactive. The Early Access launch took place on May 2, 2024, although the developers have not yet announced a specific release date for the full version. The game usually costs around $30 on Steam. Until May 11, however, interested players can try FOUNDRY for free. After that, the title will remain discounted by 30% until May 14, bringing the price down to just under $21. According to SteamDB, the game has previously been discounted by as much as 50%, most recently in September 2025. Steam Deck compatibility is listed as “Playable”.

Disclaimer: Notebookcheck is not responsible for price changes carried out by retailers. The discounted price or deal mentioned in this item was available at the time of writing and may be subject to time restrictions and/or limited unit availability.