Choose Project Zomboid
Choose Project Zomboid if you want a RPG game with Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen, and Online PvP. On Steam, it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 94% positive across 147,516 reviews.
Project Zomboid vs Northern Lights
Project Zomboid and Northern Lights both land in Indie, 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 Indie, Simulation, Early Access on Steam. Project Zomboid (2013) is 7 years older than Northern Lights (2020). Project Zomboid scores higher on Steam reviews (94% positive) than Northern Lights (73.7% 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 Northern Lights
Choose Northern Lights if it's currently about 40% cheaper on the Steam Store. Northern Lights launched in 2020.
Both Project Zomboid and Northern Lights sit in Indie, 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
 Project Zomboid |  Northern Lights | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2013 | 2020 |
| Genres | Indie, Simulation, RPG, Early Access | Indie, Simulation, Early Access |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Deck Unsupported |
| Price | 19.99 USD | 11.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 94% positive (147,516 reviews) | 73.7% positive (118 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op | Single-player only |
| Developers | The Indie Stone | MadGoat Studio |
Side by side
- Both share Indie, Simulation, Early Access on Steam.
- Project Zomboid (2013) is 7 years older than Northern Lights (2020).
- Project Zomboid scores higher on Steam reviews (94% positive) than Northern Lights (73.7% positive).
- Northern Lights is currently ~40% cheaper on Steam than Project Zomboid (11.99 USD vs. 19.99 USD).
- Project Zomboid has co-op; Northern Lights does not.
- Steam Deck: Project Zomboid is Deck Verified, Northern Lights is Deck Unsupported.
Project Zomboid vs Northern Lights — FAQ
- Which is better, Project Zomboid or Northern Lights?
- On Steam reviews Project Zomboid scores higher (94% positive) than Northern Lights (73.7% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, Project Zomboid is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.
- Should I play Project Zomboid or Northern Lights first?
- If you want chronology, Project Zomboid (2013) came out before Northern Lights (2020). 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 Project Zomboid and Northern Lights similar?
- They overlap on Indie, 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.
- Does Northern Lights have multiplayer like Project Zomboid?
- No. Project Zomboid supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op), while Northern Lights is listed as single-player only.