Choose Project Zomboid
Choose Project Zomboid if you want an Indie, Simulation, and Early Access game with Online PvP and PvP. 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 ProtoZED
Project Zomboid and ProtoZED 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. Both support cooperative play. Project Zomboid is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; ProtoZED has no Deck rating yet. 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 ProtoZED
Choose ProtoZED if you want an Action and Adventure game with LAN Co-op.
Both Project Zomboid and ProtoZED sit in RPG on Steam and both list Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen, 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 |  ProtoZED | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2013 | — |
| Genres | Indie, Simulation, RPG, Early Access | Action, Adventure, RPG |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Unrated |
| Price | 19.99 USD | Price unknown |
| Steam reviews | 94% positive (147,516 reviews) | — |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Shared/Split Screen Co-op |
| Developers | The Indie Stone | Scott H.F. Dunbar |
Side by side
- Both are RPG games on Steam.
- Both support cooperative play.
- Project Zomboid is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; ProtoZED has no Deck rating yet.
Project Zomboid vs ProtoZED — FAQ
- Are Project Zomboid and ProtoZED 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 ProtoZED 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; ProtoZED ships Online Co-op, Shared/Split Screen Co-op.
- Does Project Zomboid run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Project Zomboid is rated Deck Verified by Valve. ProtoZED doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.