Choose Ruin
Choose Ruin if it's a focused single-player run rather than a multiplayer commitment. Ruin launched in 2021.
Ruin vs SmallZ
Ruin and SmallZ both land in Action, Simulation, RPG 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, Simulation, RPG on Steam. Ruin (2021) is 2 years older than SmallZ (2023). SmallZ is free; Ruin is paid (7.99 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 SmallZ
Choose SmallZ if you want a Strategy, Indie, and Adventure game with Multi-player, MMO, and Online PvP. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. SmallZ launched in 2023.
Both Ruin and SmallZ sit in Action, Simulation, and RPG 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
 Ruin |  SmallZ | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2021 | 2023 |
| Genres | Action, Simulation, RPG, Early Access | Action, Strategy, Indie, Adventure, Simulation, Massively Multiplayer, RPG, Free To Play, Early Access |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | 7.99 USD | Free to play |
| Steam reviews | 1 reviews | 52.9% positive (51 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Multi-player |
| Developers | Blue Ink Games | skins.dog |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Simulation, RPG on Steam.
- Ruin (2021) is 2 years older than SmallZ (2023).
- SmallZ is free; Ruin is paid (7.99 USD).
- Ruin is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; SmallZ has no Deck rating yet.
Ruin vs SmallZ — FAQ
- Should I play Ruin or SmallZ first?
- If you want chronology, Ruin (2021) came out before SmallZ (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 Ruin and SmallZ similar?
- They overlap on Action, Simulation, RPG 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 Ruin have multiplayer like SmallZ?
- No. SmallZ supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player), while Ruin is listed as single-player only.
- Is SmallZ free?
- Yes — SmallZ is a free-to-play Steam title. Ruin is paid (7.99 USD).
- Does Ruin run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Ruin is rated Deck Playable by Valve. SmallZ doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.