Choose EARTH DEFENSE FORCE: IRON RAIN
Choose EARTH DEFENSE FORCE: IRON RAIN if you want the Online PvP and PvP side of the pairing. EARTH DEFENSE FORCE: IRON RAIN launched in 2019.
EARTH DEFENSE FORCE: IRON RAIN vs EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 6
EARTH DEFENSE FORCE: IRON RAIN and EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 6 both land in Action 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 are Action games on Steam. EARTH DEFENSE FORCE: IRON RAIN (2019) is 5 years older than EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 6 (2024). EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 6 scores higher on Steam reviews (77.1% positive) than EARTH DEFENSE FORCE: IRON RAIN (61.2% 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 EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 6
Choose EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 6 if it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 77.1% positive across 3,919 reviews.
Both EARTH DEFENSE FORCE: IRON RAIN and EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 6 sit in Action on Steam and both list Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen, and Online Co-op, 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
 EARTH DEFENSE FORCE: IRON RAIN |  EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2019 | 2024 |
| Genres | Action | Action |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Deck Playable |
| Price | 59.99 USD | 59.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 61.2% positive (650 reviews) | 77.1% positive (3,919 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Shared/Split Screen Co-op | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Shared/Split Screen Co-op |
| Developers | YUKE'S | SANDLOT |
Side by side
- Both are Action games on Steam.
- EARTH DEFENSE FORCE: IRON RAIN (2019) is 5 years older than EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 6 (2024).
- EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 6 scores higher on Steam reviews (77.1% positive) than EARTH DEFENSE FORCE: IRON RAIN (61.2% positive).
- EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 6 is currently ~0% cheaper on Steam than EARTH DEFENSE FORCE: IRON RAIN (59.99 USD vs. 59.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
- Both are Deck Playable.
EARTH DEFENSE FORCE: IRON RAIN vs EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 6 — FAQ
- Which is better, EARTH DEFENSE FORCE: IRON RAIN or EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 6?
- On Steam reviews EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 6 scores higher (77.1% positive) than EARTH DEFENSE FORCE: IRON RAIN (61.2% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 6 is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.
- Should I play EARTH DEFENSE FORCE: IRON RAIN or EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 6 first?
- If you want chronology, EARTH DEFENSE FORCE: IRON RAIN (2019) came out before EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 6 (2024). 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 EARTH DEFENSE FORCE: IRON RAIN and EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 6 similar?
- They overlap on Action 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.
- Do both EARTH DEFENSE FORCE: IRON RAIN and EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 6 have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: EARTH DEFENSE FORCE: IRON RAIN ships Online Co-op, Shared/Split Screen Co-op; EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 6 ships Online Co-op, Shared/Split Screen Co-op.