Choose IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946
Choose IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946 if it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 87.7% positive across 1,658 reviews.
IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946 vs DCS World Steam Edition
IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946 and DCS World Steam Edition both land in Simulation 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 Simulation games on Steam. IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946 (2008) is 5 years older than DCS World Steam Edition (2013). IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946 scores higher on Steam reviews (87.7% positive) than DCS World Steam Edition (84.6% 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 DCS World Steam Edition
Choose DCS World Steam Edition if you want a Free To Play game with Online PvP, Online Co-op, and Tracked Controller Support. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. 22,692 Steam reviews back the pick.
Both IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946 and DCS World Steam Edition sit in Simulation on Steam and both list Multi-player, LAN PvP, and LAN 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
 IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946 |  DCS World Steam Edition | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2008 | 2013 |
| Genres | Simulation | Simulation, Free To Play |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Deck Playable |
| Price | 9.99 USD | Free to play |
| Steam reviews | 87.7% positive (1,658 reviews) | 84.6% positive (22,692 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, LAN Co-op, Co-op | Multi-player, Online Co-op, LAN Co-op |
| Developers | 1C: Maddox Games | Eagle Dynamics SA |
Side by side
- Both are Simulation games on Steam.
- IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946 (2008) is 5 years older than DCS World Steam Edition (2013).
- IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946 scores higher on Steam reviews (87.7% positive) than DCS World Steam Edition (84.6% positive).
- DCS World Steam Edition is free; IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946 is paid (9.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
- Both are Deck Playable.
IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946 vs DCS World Steam Edition — FAQ
- Which is better, IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946 or DCS World Steam Edition?
- On Steam reviews IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946 scores higher (87.7% positive) than DCS World Steam Edition (84.6% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946 is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.
- Should I play IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946 or DCS World Steam Edition first?
- If you want chronology, IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946 (2008) came out before DCS World Steam Edition (2013). 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 IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946 and DCS World Steam Edition similar?
- They overlap on Simulation 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 IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946 and DCS World Steam Edition have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946 ships LAN Co-op, Co-op; DCS World Steam Edition ships Online Co-op, LAN Co-op.
- Is DCS World Steam Edition free?
- Yes — DCS World Steam Edition is a free-to-play Steam title. IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946 is paid (9.99 USD).