Choose Alchemy Emporium
Choose Alchemy Emporium if you want a Simulation experience. Alchemy Emporium launched in 2021.
Alchemy Emporium vs Desolation Tycoon
Alchemy Emporium and Desolation Tycoon both land in Strategy, Indie 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, Indie on Steam. Alchemy Emporium (2021) is 1 year older than Desolation Tycoon (2022). Desolation Tycoon scores higher on Steam reviews (88.5% positive) than Alchemy Emporium (36.4% 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 Desolation Tycoon
Choose Desolation Tycoon if it's currently about 75% cheaper on the Steam Store. Desolation Tycoon launched in 2022.
Both Alchemy Emporium and Desolation Tycoon sit in Strategy and Indie 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
 Alchemy Emporium |  Desolation Tycoon | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2021 | 2022 |
| Genres | Strategy, Indie, Simulation | Strategy, Indie |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Deck Playable |
| Price | 18.99 USD | 4.79 USD |
| Steam reviews | 36.4% positive (11 reviews) | 88.5% positive (26 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Curtel Games, Xteam software solutions | Iron Boar Labs Ltd. |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Indie on Steam.
- Alchemy Emporium (2021) is 1 year older than Desolation Tycoon (2022).
- Desolation Tycoon scores higher on Steam reviews (88.5% positive) than Alchemy Emporium (36.4% positive).
- Desolation Tycoon is currently ~75% cheaper on Steam than Alchemy Emporium (4.79 USD vs. 18.99 USD).
- Desolation Tycoon is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; Alchemy Emporium has no Deck rating yet.
Alchemy Emporium vs Desolation Tycoon — FAQ
- Should I play Alchemy Emporium or Desolation Tycoon first?
- If you want chronology, Alchemy Emporium (2021) came out before Desolation Tycoon (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 Alchemy Emporium and Desolation Tycoon similar?
- They overlap on Strategy, Indie 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.