Choose Vector Prospector
Choose Vector Prospector if it matches what drew you to this matchup. Vector Prospector launched in 2020.
Vector Prospector vs Space Mercenary Defense Force
Vector Prospector and Space Mercenary Defense Force both land in Action 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 Action games on Steam. Vector Prospector (2020) is 3 years older than Space Mercenary Defense Force (2023). Space Mercenary Defense Force is currently ~38% cheaper on Steam than Vector Prospector (4.99 USD vs. 7.99 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 Space Mercenary Defense Force
Choose Space Mercenary Defense Force if you want an Indie, RPG, and Casual experience. On Steam, it's currently about 38% cheaper on the Steam Store. Space Mercenary Defense Force launched in 2023.
Both Vector Prospector and Space Mercenary Defense Force sit in Action 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
 Vector Prospector |  Space Mercenary Defense Force | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2020 | 2023 |
| Genres | Action | Action, Indie, RPG, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Windows, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Unrated |
| Price | 7.99 USD | 4.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 82.4% positive (17 reviews) | 9 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | SpinAttack Studio | Tom Paradise |
Side by side
- Both are Action games on Steam.
- Vector Prospector (2020) is 3 years older than Space Mercenary Defense Force (2023).
- Space Mercenary Defense Force is currently ~38% cheaper on Steam than Vector Prospector (4.99 USD vs. 7.99 USD).
Vector Prospector vs Space Mercenary Defense Force — FAQ
- Should I play Vector Prospector or Space Mercenary Defense Force first?
- If you want chronology, Vector Prospector (2020) came out before Space Mercenary Defense Force (2023). 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 Vector Prospector and Space Mercenary Defense Force similar?
- They overlap on Action 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.