Choose Shadow Empire
Choose Shadow Empire if you want a RPG game with Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen, and Shared/Split Screen PvP. On Steam, it has co-op, so you can bring a friend. 1,123 Steam reviews back the pick.
Shadow Empire vs Mandate of Galactic Empires
Shadow Empire and Mandate of Galactic Empires both land in Strategy, Simulation 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 Strategy, Simulation on Steam. Shadow Empire (2020) is 6 years older than Mandate of Galactic Empires (2026). Mandate of Galactic Empires is currently ~70% cheaper on Steam than Shadow Empire (11.99 USD vs. 39.99 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 Mandate of Galactic Empires
Choose Mandate of Galactic Empires if you want an Early Access game with Custom Volume Controls, Stereo Sound, and Playable without Timed Input. On Steam, it's currently about 70% cheaper on the Steam Store. Mandate of Galactic Empires launched in 2026.
Both Shadow Empire and Mandate of Galactic Empires sit in Strategy and Simulation 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
 Shadow Empire |  Mandate of Galactic Empires | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2020 | 2026 |
| Genres | Strategy, Simulation, RPG | Strategy, Simulation, Early Access |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Deck Unsupported | Unrated |
| Price | 39.99 USD | 11.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 82.1% positive (1,123 reviews) | — |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op | Single-player only |
| Developers | VR Designs | Oddbit |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Simulation on Steam.
- Shadow Empire (2020) is 6 years older than Mandate of Galactic Empires (2026).
- Mandate of Galactic Empires is currently ~70% cheaper on Steam than Shadow Empire (11.99 USD vs. 39.99 USD).
- Shadow Empire has co-op; Mandate of Galactic Empires does not.
- Shadow Empire is Deck Unsupported on Steam Deck; Mandate of Galactic Empires has no Deck rating yet.
Shadow Empire vs Mandate of Galactic Empires — FAQ
- Should I play Shadow Empire or Mandate of Galactic Empires first?
- If you want chronology, Shadow Empire (2020) came out before Mandate of Galactic Empires (2026). 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 Mandate of Galactic Empires similar?
- They overlap on Strategy, Simulation 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 Mandate of Galactic Empires have multiplayer like Shadow Empire?
- No. Shadow Empire supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op), while Mandate of Galactic Empires is listed as single-player only.