Choose BAO
Choose BAO if it matches what drew you to this matchup. BAO launched in 2020.
BAO vs Paper Flags
BAO and Paper Flags 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. BAO (2020) is 6 years older than Paper Flags (2026). 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 Paper Flags
Choose Paper Flags if you want an Indie and Casual game with Shared/Split Screen, Shared/Split Screen PvP, and LAN PvP. On Steam, it's the newer release (2026) and ships with the modern feature baseline. Paper Flags launched in 2026.
Both BAO and Paper Flags sit in Strategy on Steam and both list Multi-player, Online PvP, and 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
 BAO |  Paper Flags | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2020 | 2026 |
| Genres | Strategy | Strategy, Indie, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Unrated |
| Price | 6.99 USD | Price unknown |
| Steam reviews | 3 reviews | — |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer |
| Developers | VMS Media | Winterlude Interactive |
Side by side
- Both are Strategy games on Steam.
- BAO (2020) is 6 years older than Paper Flags (2026).
BAO vs Paper Flags — FAQ
- Should I play BAO or Paper Flags first?
- If you want chronology, BAO (2020) came out before Paper Flags (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 BAO and Paper Flags 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.