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 Deep Despair 3
Project Zomboid and Deep Despair 3 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 11 years older than Deep Despair 3 (2024). Project Zomboid scores higher on Steam reviews (94% positive) than Deep Despair 3 (88.9% 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 Deep Despair 3
Choose Deep Despair 3 if you want an Action, Adventure, and Casual experience. On Steam, it's currently about 55% cheaper on the Steam Store. Deep Despair 3 launched in 2024.
Both Project Zomboid and Deep Despair 3 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 |  Deep Despair 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2013 | 2024 |
| Genres | Indie, Simulation, RPG, Early Access | Action, Indie, Adventure, Simulation, RPG, Casual, Early Access |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Unrated |
| Price | 19.99 USD | 8.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 94% positive (147,516 reviews) | 88.9% positive (18 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op | Single-player only |
| Developers | The Indie Stone | BekkerDev Studio |
Side by side
- Both share Indie, Simulation, RPG on Steam.
- Project Zomboid (2013) is 11 years older than Deep Despair 3 (2024).
- Project Zomboid scores higher on Steam reviews (94% positive) than Deep Despair 3 (88.9% positive).
- Deep Despair 3 is currently ~55% cheaper on Steam than Project Zomboid (8.99 USD vs. 19.99 USD).
- Project Zomboid has co-op; Deep Despair 3 does not.
- Project Zomboid is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Deep Despair 3 has no Deck rating yet.
Project Zomboid vs Deep Despair 3 — FAQ
- Should I play Project Zomboid or Deep Despair 3 first?
- If you want chronology, Project Zomboid (2013) came out before Deep Despair 3 (2024). 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 Deep Despair 3 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 Deep Despair 3 have multiplayer like Project Zomboid?
- No. Project Zomboid supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op), while Deep Despair 3 is listed as single-player only.
- Does Project Zomboid run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Project Zomboid is rated Deck Verified by Valve. Deep Despair 3 doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.