Choose Starmancer
Choose Starmancer if you want an Indie experience. On Steam, it's currently about 23% cheaper on the Steam Store. Starmancer launched in 2021.
Starmancer vs The Crust
Starmancer and The Crust both land in Strategy, Simulation, Early Access 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, Simulation, Early Access on Steam. Starmancer (2021) is 3 years older than The Crust (2024). The Crust scores higher on Steam reviews (74.4% positive) than Starmancer (62.8% 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 The Crust
Choose The Crust if it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 74.4% positive across 1,611 reviews.
Both Starmancer and The Crust sit in Strategy, Simulation, and Early Access 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
 Starmancer |  The Crust | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2021 | 2024 |
| Genres | Strategy, Indie, Simulation, Early Access | Strategy, Simulation, Early Access |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Deck Playable |
| Price | 14.99 USD | 19.49 USD |
| Steam reviews | 62.8% positive (602 reviews) | 74.4% positive (1,611 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Ominux Games | VEOM Studio |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Simulation, Early Access on Steam.
- Starmancer (2021) is 3 years older than The Crust (2024).
- The Crust scores higher on Steam reviews (74.4% positive) than Starmancer (62.8% positive).
- Starmancer is currently ~23% cheaper on Steam than The Crust (14.99 USD vs. 19.49 USD).
- Both are Deck Playable.
Starmancer vs The Crust — FAQ
- Which is better, Starmancer or The Crust?
- On Steam reviews The Crust scores higher (74.4% positive) than Starmancer (62.8% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, The Crust is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.
- Should I play Starmancer or The Crust first?
- If you want chronology, Starmancer (2021) came out before The Crust (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 Starmancer and The Crust similar?
- They overlap on Strategy, Simulation, Early Access 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.