Choose Shadow Empire
Choose Shadow Empire if you want a Simulation and RPG game with Shared/Split Screen Co-op and Co-op. On Steam, it has co-op, so you can bring a friend. 1,123 Steam reviews back the pick.
Shadow Empire vs Commander: Modern War
Shadow Empire and Commander: Modern War both land in Strategy 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 Strategy games on Steam. Shadow Empire (2020) is 3 years older than Commander: Modern War (2023). Commander: Modern War scores higher on Steam reviews (87.5% positive) than Shadow Empire (82.1% 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 Commander: Modern War
Choose Commander: Modern War if you want an Indie experience. On Steam, it's currently about 50% cheaper on the Steam Store. Commander: Modern War launched in 2023.
Both Shadow Empire and Commander: Modern War sit in Strategy on Steam and both list Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen, and Shared/Split Screen PvP, 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
 Shadow Empire |  Commander: Modern War | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2020 | 2023 |
| Genres | Strategy, Simulation, RPG | Strategy, Indie |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Deck Unsupported | Unrated |
| Price | 19.99 USD | 9.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 82.1% positive (1,123 reviews) | 87.5% positive (24 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op | Multi-player |
| Developers | VR Designs | GoldenGod Games |
Side by side
- Both are Strategy games on Steam.
- Shadow Empire (2020) is 3 years older than Commander: Modern War (2023).
- Commander: Modern War scores higher on Steam reviews (87.5% positive) than Shadow Empire (82.1% positive).
- Commander: Modern War is currently ~50% cheaper on Steam than Shadow Empire (9.99 USD vs. 19.99 USD).
- Shadow Empire has co-op; Commander: Modern War does not.
- Shadow Empire is Deck Unsupported on Steam Deck; Commander: Modern War has no Deck rating yet.
Shadow Empire vs Commander: Modern War — FAQ
- Should I play Shadow Empire or Commander: Modern War first?
- If you want chronology, Shadow Empire (2020) came out before Commander: Modern War (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 Shadow Empire and Commander: Modern War similar?
- They overlap on Strategy 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.