Choose Rift World
Choose Rift World if you want an Adventure experience. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. Rift World launched in 2022.
Rift World vs Elysium Trials
Rift World and Elysium Trials both land in Action, 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 Action, Indie on Steam. Rift World (2022) is 1 year older than Elysium Trials (2023). Elysium Trials scores higher on Steam reviews (100% positive) than Rift World (80% 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 Elysium Trials
Choose Elysium Trials if you want the VR Supported side of the pairing. Elysium Trials launched in 2023.
Both Rift World and Elysium Trials sit in Action 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
 Rift World |  Elysium Trials | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2022 | 2023 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Adventure | Action, Indie |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Unrated |
| Price | Free to play | 9.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 80% positive (20 reviews) | 100% positive (12 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Nick Paladino | Filotimo Innovations LLC |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie on Steam.
- Rift World (2022) is 1 year older than Elysium Trials (2023).
- Elysium Trials scores higher on Steam reviews (100% positive) than Rift World (80% positive).
- Rift World is free; Elysium Trials is paid (9.99 USD).
Rift World vs Elysium Trials — FAQ
- Should I play Rift World or Elysium Trials first?
- If you want chronology, Rift World (2022) came out before Elysium Trials (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 Rift World and Elysium Trials similar?
- They overlap on Action, 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.
- Is Rift World free?
- Yes — Rift World is a free-to-play Steam title. Elysium Trials is paid (9.99 USD).