Choose Project Zomboid
Choose Project Zomboid if you want a 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 Rust
Project Zomboid and Rust both land in Indie, 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, RPG on Steam. Project Zomboid (2013) is 5 years older than Rust (2018). Project Zomboid scores higher on Steam reviews (94% positive) than Rust (86.7% 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 Rust
Choose Rust if you want an Action, Adventure, and Massively Multiplayer game with MMO, Adjustable Text Size, and Subtitle Options. On Steam, it's the newer release (2018) and ships with the modern feature baseline. 519,643 Steam reviews back the pick.
Both Project Zomboid and Rust sit in Indie and 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 |  Rust | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2013 | 2018 |
| Genres | Indie, Simulation, RPG, Early Access | Action, Indie, Adventure, Massively Multiplayer, RPG |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Deck Unsupported |
| Price | 24.99 USD | 39.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 94% positive (147,516 reviews) | 86.7% positive (519,643 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op |
| Developers | The Indie Stone | Facepunch Studios |
Side by side
- Both share Indie, RPG on Steam.
- Project Zomboid (2013) is 5 years older than Rust (2018).
- Project Zomboid scores higher on Steam reviews (94% positive) than Rust (86.7% positive).
- Project Zomboid is currently ~38% cheaper on Steam than Rust (24.99 USD vs. 39.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
- Steam Deck: Project Zomboid is Deck Verified, Rust is Deck Unsupported.
Project Zomboid vs Rust — FAQ
- Which is better, Project Zomboid or Rust?
- On Steam reviews Project Zomboid scores higher (94% positive) than Rust (86.7% 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 Rust first?
- If you want chronology, Project Zomboid (2013) came out before Rust (2018). 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 Rust similar?
- They overlap on Indie, 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 Rust 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; Rust ships Online Co-op, Co-op.