Any other games like this?

[Hypersapien]

Games where you have units that you program instructions for to automate tasks?

There's games like Factorio and Satisfactory where you create assembly lines, but that's more analog, connecting conveyor belts up to machines and containers rather than actually writing scripts.

[Fel]

Not the same but I found this one recently that's not bad in terms of programming (basic enough to not need to be a professional programmer to be able to play but with enough stuff to challenge you a bit):
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2060160/The_Farmer_Was_Replaced/

[Hypersapien]

Originally posted by Fel:

Not the same but I found this one recently that's not bad in terms of programming (basic enough to not need to be a professional programmer to be able to play but with enough stuff to challenge you a bit):
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2060160/The_Farmer_Was_Replaced/

I have that one. It's really simplistic.

[Egan Wolf]

There's Omega Crafter which also has bots and programming but it's not a factory game. There's more focus on fighting and exploration. Read top review, it describes the game perfectly: https://steamcommunity.com/id/Gen_Curmudgeon/recommended/2262080/

[Capt.Cliff™]

The above mentioned game presented as "a game like this" is nothing of the kind IMO.

[Fel]

That's the thing though, there doesn't seem to be any "game like this", so the best answers would be aproximations and games that share some aspects.
OP specifically ruled out normal automation games and focused on the programing side for what is considered "like this", but there are not exactly many games with programing, and most of them are not that good on top of not being about automation usually.

[Merp]

Look into an old game called Colobot. I wouldn't be surprised if the Denki team took at least mild inspiration from it.

[Genius Isme]

Keep an eye on Craftomation 101. It is in EA right now, and frankly does not have much content, but bot programming sytem looks very promising.

[Merp]

Originally posted by Jake:

Just stumbled upon this in the store and looks POTENTIALLY similar...
https://store.steampowered.com/app/677340/The_Colonists/

Yes, but also mostly no. The similarities are basically ''you have robots" and "you start with a spaceship''. The Colonists is much closer to a traditional city builder, especially the older Settler games [in that you have to have every building connected by roads in order for stuff to be transported]. It's a decent game, and I think it's worth a buy [maaaaybe on sale, depending on your valuation of it], but it doesn't really work as a similar game to Autonauts.

[Stormbow]

Originally posted by Capt.Cliff™:

The above mentioned game presented as "a game like this" is nothing of the kind IMO.

Have you even played Omega Crafter? It's 100% "like this", but not this deep or complex in programming.

[Capt.Cliff™]

Originally posted by Stormbow:

Have you even played Omega Crafter? It's 100% "like this", but not this deep or complex in programming.

Well, there are role play elements involved in that game plus monsters.

[Stormbow]

Originally posted by Capt.Cliff™:

Originally posted by Stormbow:

Have you even played Omega Crafter? It's 100% "like this", but not this deep or complex in programming.

Well, there are role play elements involved in that game plus monsters.

So what you're saying is, it's "like this", not "exactly this".

Sounds "like" what OP was looking for.

[Capt.Cliff™]

Originally posted by Stormbow:

So what you're saying is, it's "like this", not "exactly this". Sounds "like" what OP was looking for.

Omega Crafter is similar so I take back first commenting "nothing of the kind." Move on.

[Luke ✞ Jesus Saves ✞]

Do you consider Desynced "like this"? I enjoyed it for quite a few hours https://store.steampowered.com/app/1450900/Desynced_Autonomous_Colony_Simulator/