Choose Terraformers: First Steps on Mars
Choose Terraformers: First Steps on Mars if you want a Free To Play experience. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. Terraformers: First Steps on Mars launched in 2021.
Terraformers: First Steps on Mars vs Galactic Empire
Terraformers: First Steps on Mars and Galactic Empire both land in Strategy, 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 share Strategy, Simulation on Steam. Terraformers: First Steps on Mars (2021) is 2 years older than Galactic Empire (2023). Terraformers: First Steps on Mars is free; Galactic Empire is paid (24.99 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 Galactic Empire
Choose Galactic Empire if you want an Indie game with Steam Leaderboards. On Steam, it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. Galactic Empire launched in 2023.
Both Terraformers: First Steps on Mars and Galactic Empire sit in Strategy and Simulation 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
 Terraformers: First Steps on Mars |  Galactic Empire | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2021 | 2023 |
| Genres | Strategy, Simulation, Free To Play | Strategy, Indie, Simulation |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Deck Verified |
| Price | Free to play | 24.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 87.1% positive (325 reviews) | 2 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Asteroid Lab | Kielan xD |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Simulation on Steam.
- Terraformers: First Steps on Mars (2021) is 2 years older than Galactic Empire (2023).
- Terraformers: First Steps on Mars is free; Galactic Empire is paid (24.99 USD).
- Galactic Empire is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Terraformers: First Steps on Mars has no Deck rating yet.
Terraformers: First Steps on Mars vs Galactic Empire — FAQ
- Should I play Terraformers: First Steps on Mars or Galactic Empire first?
- If you want chronology, Terraformers: First Steps on Mars (2021) came out before Galactic Empire (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 Terraformers: First Steps on Mars and Galactic Empire similar?
- They overlap on Strategy, 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.
- Is Terraformers: First Steps on Mars free?
- Yes — Terraformers: First Steps on Mars is a free-to-play Steam title. Galactic Empire is paid (24.99 USD).