Choose Arma 3
Choose Arma 3 if you want the Multi-player, Steam Leaderboards, and Online PvP side of the pairing. On Steam, it has co-op, so you can bring a friend. 110,281 Steam reviews back the pick.
Arma 3 vs Arma: Cold War Assault Mac/Linux
Arma 3 and Arma: Cold War Assault Mac/Linux both land in Action, Strategy, Simulation 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 Action, Strategy, Simulation on Steam. Arma 3 (2013) is 4 years older than Arma: Cold War Assault Mac/Linux (2017). Arma 3 scores higher on Steam reviews (91.6% positive) than Arma: Cold War Assault Mac/Linux (84.1% 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 Arma: Cold War Assault Mac/Linux
Choose Arma: Cold War Assault Mac/Linux if it's currently about 83% cheaper on the Steam Store. Arma: Cold War Assault Mac/Linux launched in 2017.
Both Arma 3 and Arma: Cold War Assault Mac/Linux sit in Action, Strategy, and Simulation 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 |  Arma: Cold War Assault Mac/Linux | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2013 | 2017 |
| Genres | Action, Strategy, Simulation | Action, Strategy, Simulation |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | macOS, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | 29.99 USD | 4.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 91.6% positive (110,281 reviews) | 84.1% positive (69 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Online Co-op, LAN Co-op | Single-player only |
| Developers | Bohemia Interactive | Bohemia Interactive |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Strategy, Simulation on Steam.
- Arma 3 (2013) is 4 years older than Arma: Cold War Assault Mac/Linux (2017).
- Arma 3 scores higher on Steam reviews (91.6% positive) than Arma: Cold War Assault Mac/Linux (84.1% positive).
- Arma: Cold War Assault Mac/Linux is currently ~83% cheaper on Steam than Arma 3 (4.99 USD vs. 29.99 USD).
- Arma 3 has co-op; Arma: Cold War Assault Mac/Linux does not.
- Arma 3 is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; Arma: Cold War Assault Mac/Linux has no Deck rating yet.
Arma 3 vs Arma: Cold War Assault Mac/Linux — FAQ
- Should I play Arma 3 or Arma: Cold War Assault Mac/Linux first?
- If you want chronology, Arma 3 (2013) came out before Arma: Cold War Assault Mac/Linux (2017). 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 Arma: Cold War Assault Mac/Linux similar?
- They overlap on Action, Strategy, Simulation 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 Arma: Cold War Assault Mac/Linux have multiplayer like Arma 3?
- No. Arma 3 supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player, Online Co-op, LAN Co-op), while Arma: Cold War Assault Mac/Linux is listed as single-player only.
- Does Arma 3 run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Arma 3 is rated Deck Playable by Valve. Arma: Cold War Assault Mac/Linux doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.