Choose Arma 3
Choose Arma 3 if you want a Strategy and Simulation game with Multi-player, Steam Leaderboards, and Online PvP. On Steam, it has co-op, so you can bring a friend. 110,281 Steam reviews back the pick.
Arma 3 vs Island Assault
Arma 3 and Island Assault 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. Arma 3 (2013) is 9 years older than Island Assault (2022). Arma 3 scores higher on Steam reviews (91.6% positive) than Island Assault (33.3% 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 Island Assault
Choose Island Assault if it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. Island Assault launched in 2022.
Both Arma 3 and Island Assault sit in Action 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
 Arma 3 |  Island Assault | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2013 | 2022 |
| Genres | Action, Strategy, Simulation | Action |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | 29.99 USD | Free to play |
| Steam reviews | 91.6% positive (110,281 reviews) | 33.3% positive (12 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Online Co-op, LAN Co-op | Single-player only |
| Developers | Bohemia Interactive | PhantomCore Studio |
Side by side
- Both are Action games on Steam.
- Arma 3 (2013) is 9 years older than Island Assault (2022).
- Arma 3 scores higher on Steam reviews (91.6% positive) than Island Assault (33.3% positive).
- Island Assault is free; Arma 3 is paid (29.99 USD).
- Arma 3 has co-op; Island Assault does not.
- Arma 3 is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; Island Assault has no Deck rating yet.
Arma 3 vs Island Assault — FAQ
- Should I play Arma 3 or Island Assault first?
- If you want chronology, Arma 3 (2013) came out before Island Assault (2022). 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 Arma 3 and Island Assault 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.
- Does Island Assault have multiplayer like Arma 3?
- No. Arma 3 supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player, Online Co-op, LAN Co-op), while Island Assault is listed as single-player only.
- Is Island Assault free?
- Yes — Island Assault is a free-to-play Steam title. Arma 3 is paid (29.99 USD).
- Does Arma 3 run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Arma 3 is rated Deck Playable by Valve. Island Assault doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.