Choose The WILDS
Choose The WILDS if you want an Early Access experience. On Steam, it's currently about 67% cheaper on the Steam Store. The WILDS launched in 2022.
The WILDS vs Animal Simulator
The WILDS and Animal Simulator both land in Simulation, RPG, Casual on Steam, which is why they keep getting compared. The comparison below is built from each game's Steam metadata — release year, genres, categories, Steam Deck status, price, and review score — refreshed daily by imho.run's scraper. Headline differences: Both share Simulation, RPG, Casual on Steam. The WILDS (2022) is 3 years older than Animal Simulator (2025). The WILDS scores higher on Steam reviews (76.6% positive) than Animal Simulator (32.1% positive). No login or purchase needed — scroll for the full table, the verdict FAQ, and links to ranked similar games for both titles.
Which should you pick?
Choose Animal Simulator
Choose Animal Simulator if you want an Action, Indie, and Adventure game with Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen, and Shared/Split Screen Co-op. On Steam, it's the newer release (2025) and ships with the modern feature baseline. Animal Simulator launched in 2025.
Both The WILDS and Animal Simulator sit in Simulation, RPG, and Casual on Steam, so either pick lands in the same broad neighborhood. Use the side-by-side table for the feature view, or follow the "Games like" links below to see ranked alternatives for either title.
Side-by-side comparison
 The WILDS |  Animal Simulator | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2022 | 2025 |
| Genres | Simulation, RPG, Casual, Early Access | Action, Indie, Adventure, Simulation, RPG, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | 4.99 USD | 14.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 76.6% positive (418 reviews) | 32.1% positive (28 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | Gluten Free Games | Imperian Online - Core |
Side by side
- Both share Simulation, RPG, Casual on Steam.
- The WILDS (2022) is 3 years older than Animal Simulator (2025).
- The WILDS scores higher on Steam reviews (76.6% positive) than Animal Simulator (32.1% positive).
- The WILDS is currently ~67% cheaper on Steam than Animal Simulator (4.99 USD vs. 14.99 USD).
- Animal Simulator has co-op; The WILDS does not.
- The WILDS is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; Animal Simulator has no Deck rating yet.
The WILDS vs Animal Simulator — FAQ
- Should I play The WILDS or Animal Simulator first?
- If you want chronology, The WILDS (2022) came out before Animal Simulator (2025). If neither is a sequel to the other, order doesn't really matter — start with whichever fits your current mood, since both share enough on Steam to make either a reasonable opener.
- Are The WILDS and Animal Simulator similar?
- They overlap on Simulation, RPG, Casual on Steam, so the catalogue groups them together — but "similar" depends on the specific mechanics. Use the genre + category rows above to decide whether the overlap matches what drew you to the one you've already played.
- Does The WILDS have multiplayer like Animal Simulator?
- No. Animal Simulator supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op), while The WILDS is listed as single-player only.
- Does The WILDS run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — The WILDS is rated Deck Playable by Valve. Animal Simulator doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.