Choose Retrograde
Choose Retrograde if you want a Massively Multiplayer experience. On Steam, it's currently about 27% cheaper on the Steam Store. Retrograde launched in 2021.
Retrograde vs Portable Ops
Retrograde and Portable Ops 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. Retrograde (2021) is 2 years older than Portable Ops (2023). Retrograde is currently ~27% cheaper on Steam than Portable Ops (10.99 USD vs. 14.99 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 Portable Ops
Choose Portable Ops if you want a Simulation experience. Portable Ops launched in 2023.
Both Retrograde and Portable Ops sit in Action and Indie on Steam and both list Multi-player, Online PvP, and Online 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
 Retrograde |  Portable Ops | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2021 | 2023 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Massively Multiplayer | Action, Indie, Simulation |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Unrated |
| Price | 10.99 USD | 14.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | — | 4 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Online Co-op, LAN Co-op | Multi-player, Online Co-op, LAN Co-op |
| Developers | Steven Krupski | Sean Smith, Outlaw Games |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie on Steam.
- Retrograde (2021) is 2 years older than Portable Ops (2023).
- Retrograde is currently ~27% cheaper on Steam than Portable Ops (10.99 USD vs. 14.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
Retrograde vs Portable Ops — FAQ
- Should I play Retrograde or Portable Ops first?
- If you want chronology, Retrograde (2021) came out before Portable Ops (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 Retrograde and Portable Ops 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.
- Do both Retrograde and Portable Ops have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: Retrograde ships Online Co-op, LAN Co-op; Portable Ops ships Online Co-op, LAN Co-op.