Choose Elixir of Life
Choose Elixir of Life if you want a Strategy, Adventure, and Simulation experience. Elixir of Life launched in 2021.
Elixir of Life vs Hearthkeeper
Elixir of Life and Hearthkeeper both land in Indie, RPG, Early Access 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 Indie, RPG, Early Access on Steam. Elixir of Life (2021) is 3 years older than Hearthkeeper (2024). Hearthkeeper is currently ~40% cheaper on Steam than Elixir of Life (2.99 USD vs. 4.99 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 Hearthkeeper
Choose Hearthkeeper if it's currently about 40% cheaper on the Steam Store. Hearthkeeper launched in 2024.
Both Elixir of Life and Hearthkeeper sit in Indie, RPG, and Early Access 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
 Elixir of Life |  Hearthkeeper | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2021 | 2024 |
| Genres | Strategy, Indie, Adventure, Simulation, RPG, Casual, Early Access | Indie, RPG, Early Access |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Unrated |
| Price | 4.99 USD | 2.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 2 reviews | 3 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Gurcan Games | Prancing Death Studios |
Side by side
- Both share Indie, RPG, Early Access on Steam.
- Elixir of Life (2021) is 3 years older than Hearthkeeper (2024).
- Hearthkeeper is currently ~40% cheaper on Steam than Elixir of Life (2.99 USD vs. 4.99 USD).
Elixir of Life vs Hearthkeeper — FAQ
- Should I play Elixir of Life or Hearthkeeper first?
- If you want chronology, Elixir of Life (2021) came out before Hearthkeeper (2024). 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 Elixir of Life and Hearthkeeper similar?
- They overlap on Indie, RPG, Early Access 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.