Choose Project Zomboid
Choose Project Zomboid if you want an Indie, Simulation, and Early Access game with Shared/Split Screen and Shared/Split Screen Co-op. On Steam, it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 94% positive across 147,516 reviews.
Project Zomboid vs DARKEST DAYS
Project Zomboid and DARKEST DAYS both land in 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 are RPG games on Steam. Project Zomboid (2013) is 12 years older than DARKEST DAYS (2025). Project Zomboid scores higher on Steam reviews (94% positive) than DARKEST DAYS (49.3% 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 DARKEST DAYS
Choose DARKEST DAYS if you want an Action, Adventure, and Massively Multiplayer experience. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. 1,359 Steam reviews back the pick.
Both Project Zomboid and DARKEST DAYS sit in RPG on Steam and both list Multi-player, Online PvP, and Online Co-op, 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 |  DARKEST DAYS | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2013 | 2025 |
| Genres | Indie, Simulation, RPG, Early Access | Action, Adventure, Massively Multiplayer, RPG, Free To Play |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Deck Unsupported |
| Price | 19.99 USD | Free to play |
| Steam reviews | 94% positive (147,516 reviews) | 49.3% positive (1,359 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op |
| Developers | The Indie Stone | NHN |
Side by side
- Both are RPG games on Steam.
- Project Zomboid (2013) is 12 years older than DARKEST DAYS (2025).
- Project Zomboid scores higher on Steam reviews (94% positive) than DARKEST DAYS (49.3% positive).
- DARKEST DAYS is free; Project Zomboid is paid (19.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
- Steam Deck: Project Zomboid is Deck Verified, DARKEST DAYS is Deck Unsupported.
Project Zomboid vs DARKEST DAYS — FAQ
- Which is better, Project Zomboid or DARKEST DAYS?
- On Steam reviews Project Zomboid scores higher (94% positive) than DARKEST DAYS (49.3% 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 DARKEST DAYS first?
- If you want chronology, Project Zomboid (2013) came out before DARKEST DAYS (2025). 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 DARKEST DAYS similar?
- They overlap on 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.
- Do both Project Zomboid and DARKEST DAYS have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: Project Zomboid ships Online Co-op, Shared/Split Screen Co-op; DARKEST DAYS ships Online Co-op, Co-op.
- Is DARKEST DAYS free?
- Yes — DARKEST DAYS is a free-to-play Steam title. Project Zomboid is paid (19.99 USD).