Choose Battle Axe
Choose Battle Axe if it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. Battle Axe launched in 2021.
Battle Axe vs The Rusty Sword: Vanguard Island
Battle Axe and The Rusty Sword: Vanguard Island both land in Action, Adventure 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 Action, Adventure on Steam. Battle Axe (2021) is 1 year older than The Rusty Sword: Vanguard Island (2022). The Rusty Sword: Vanguard Island scores higher on Steam reviews (73.1% positive) than Battle Axe (61.8% 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 The Rusty Sword: Vanguard Island
Choose The Rusty Sword: Vanguard Island if you want an Indie experience. On Steam, it's currently about 97% cheaper on the Steam Store. The Rusty Sword: Vanguard Island launched in 2022.
Both Battle Axe and The Rusty Sword: Vanguard Island sit in Action and Adventure on Steam and both list Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen, and Shared/Split Screen 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
 Battle Axe |  The Rusty Sword: Vanguard Island | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2021 | 2022 |
| Genres | Action, Adventure | Action, Indie, Adventure |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Unrated |
| Price | 29.99 USD | 0.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 61.8% positive (55 reviews) | 73.1% positive (26 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op | Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | Bitmap Bureau | Plow Games LLC. |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Adventure on Steam.
- Battle Axe (2021) is 1 year older than The Rusty Sword: Vanguard Island (2022).
- The Rusty Sword: Vanguard Island scores higher on Steam reviews (73.1% positive) than Battle Axe (61.8% positive).
- The Rusty Sword: Vanguard Island is currently ~97% cheaper on Steam than Battle Axe (0.99 USD vs. 29.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
- Battle Axe is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; The Rusty Sword: Vanguard Island has no Deck rating yet.
Battle Axe vs The Rusty Sword: Vanguard Island — FAQ
- Should I play Battle Axe or The Rusty Sword: Vanguard Island first?
- If you want chronology, Battle Axe (2021) came out before The Rusty Sword: Vanguard Island (2022). 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 Battle Axe and The Rusty Sword: Vanguard Island similar?
- They overlap on Action, Adventure 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 Battle Axe and The Rusty Sword: Vanguard Island have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: Battle Axe ships Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op; The Rusty Sword: Vanguard Island ships Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op.
- Does Battle Axe run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Battle Axe is rated Deck Verified by Valve. The Rusty Sword: Vanguard Island doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.