Choose Wingspan
Choose Wingspan if you want the Steam Leaderboards and Steam Turn Notifications side of the pairing. On Steam, it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. 6,321 Steam reviews back the pick.
Wingspan vs Ruthless Returns
Wingspan and Ruthless Returns both land in Strategy, Indie 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 Strategy, Indie on Steam. Wingspan (2020) is 6 years older than Ruthless Returns (2026). Ruthless Returns is free; Wingspan is paid (9.99 USD). 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 Ruthless Returns
Choose Ruthless Returns if you want a Free To Play and Casual game with Shared/Split Screen. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. Ruthless Returns launched in 2026.
Both Wingspan and Ruthless Returns sit in Strategy and Indie on Steam and both list Multi-player, Online PvP, and Shared/Split Screen PvP, 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
 Wingspan |  Ruthless Returns | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2020 | 2026 |
| Genres | Strategy, Indie | Strategy, Indie, Free To Play, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Unrated |
| Price | 9.99 USD | Free to play |
| Steam reviews | 95% positive (6,321 reviews) | 1 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op |
| Developers | Monster Couch | South Harbour Studios |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Indie on Steam.
- Wingspan (2020) is 6 years older than Ruthless Returns (2026).
- Ruthless Returns is free; Wingspan is paid (9.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
- Wingspan is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Ruthless Returns has no Deck rating yet.
Wingspan vs Ruthless Returns — FAQ
- Should I play Wingspan or Ruthless Returns first?
- If you want chronology, Wingspan (2020) came out before Ruthless Returns (2026). 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 Wingspan and Ruthless Returns similar?
- They overlap on Strategy, Indie 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 Wingspan and Ruthless Returns have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: Wingspan ships Online Co-op, Shared/Split Screen Co-op; Ruthless Returns ships Online Co-op, Shared/Split Screen Co-op.
- Is Ruthless Returns free?
- Yes — Ruthless Returns is a free-to-play Steam title. Wingspan is paid (9.99 USD).
- Does Wingspan run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Wingspan is rated Deck Verified by Valve. Ruthless Returns doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.