Choose Project Zomboid
Choose Project Zomboid if you want the Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen, and Online PvP side of the pairing. On Steam, it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. 147,516 Steam reviews back the pick.
Project Zomboid vs Scraplers
Project Zomboid and Scraplers both land in Indie, Simulation, RPG 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, RPG on Steam. Project Zomboid (2013) is 8 years older than Scraplers (2021). Scraplers is currently ~80% cheaper on Steam than Project Zomboid (3.99 USD vs. 19.99 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 Scraplers
Choose Scraplers if it's currently about 80% cheaper on the Steam Store. Scraplers launched in 2021.
Both Project Zomboid and Scraplers sit in Indie, Simulation, and RPG 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 |  Scraplers | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2013 | 2021 |
| Genres | Indie, Simulation, RPG, Early Access | Indie, Simulation, RPG, Early Access |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Unrated |
| Price | 19.99 USD | 3.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 94% positive (147,516 reviews) | 3 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op | Single-player only |
| Developers | The Indie Stone | Cryoshark |
Side by side
- Both share Indie, Simulation, RPG on Steam.
- Project Zomboid (2013) is 8 years older than Scraplers (2021).
- Scraplers is currently ~80% cheaper on Steam than Project Zomboid (3.99 USD vs. 19.99 USD).
- Project Zomboid has co-op; Scraplers does not.
- Project Zomboid is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Scraplers has no Deck rating yet.
Project Zomboid vs Scraplers — FAQ
- Should I play Project Zomboid or Scraplers first?
- If you want chronology, Project Zomboid (2013) came out before Scraplers (2021). 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 Scraplers similar?
- They overlap on Indie, Simulation, RPG 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 Scraplers have multiplayer like Project Zomboid?
- No. Project Zomboid supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op), while Scraplers is listed as single-player only.
- Does Project Zomboid run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Project Zomboid is rated Deck Verified by Valve. Scraplers doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.