Choose IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946
Choose IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946 if it matches what drew you to this matchup. 1,658 Steam reviews back the pick.
IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946 vs European Air War
IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946 and European Air War 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 14 years older than European Air War (2022). IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946 scores higher on Steam reviews (87.7% positive) than European Air War (84.1% 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 European Air War
Choose European Air War if it's the newer release (2022) and ships with the modern feature baseline. European Air War launched in 2022.
Both IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946 and European Air War 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 |  European Air War | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2008 | 2022 |
| Genres | Simulation | Simulation |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | 9.99 USD | 9.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 87.7% positive (1,658 reviews) | 84.1% positive (44 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, LAN Co-op, Co-op | Multi-player, LAN Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | 1C: Maddox Games | MicroProse Software |
Side by side
- Both are Simulation games on Steam.
- IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946 (2008) is 14 years older than European Air War (2022).
- IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946 scores higher on Steam reviews (87.7% positive) than European Air War (84.1% positive).
- European Air War is currently ~0% cheaper on Steam than IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946 (9.99 USD vs. 9.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
- IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946 is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; European Air War has no Deck rating yet.
IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946 vs European Air War — FAQ
- Should I play IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946 or European Air War first?
- If you want chronology, IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946 (2008) came out before European Air War (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 IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946 and European Air War 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 European Air War have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946 ships LAN Co-op, Co-op; European Air War ships LAN Co-op, Co-op.
- Does IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946 run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946 is rated Deck Playable by Valve. European Air War doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.