Choose Empower
Choose Empower if you want an Indie, Simulation, and Early Access experience. Empower launched in 2021.
Empower vs X8
Empower and X8 both land in Action 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 Action games on Steam. Empower (2021) is 2 years older than X8 (2023). X8 is free; Empower is paid (17.99 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 X8
Choose X8 if you want a Free To Play experience. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. X8 launched in 2023.
Both Empower and X8 sit in Action 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
 Empower |  X8 | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2021 | 2023 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Simulation, Early Access | Action, Free To Play |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Unrated |
| Price | 17.99 USD | Free to play |
| Steam reviews | 2 reviews | 82.9% positive (164 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op |
| Developers | DespoDev | Thirdverse, Co., Ltd. |
Side by side
- Both are Action games on Steam.
- Empower (2021) is 2 years older than X8 (2023).
- X8 is free; Empower is paid (17.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
Empower vs X8 — FAQ
- Should I play Empower or X8 first?
- If you want chronology, Empower (2021) came out before X8 (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 Empower and X8 similar?
- They overlap on Action 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 Empower and X8 have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: Empower ships Online Co-op, Co-op; X8 ships Online Co-op, Co-op.
- Is X8 free?
- Yes — X8 is a free-to-play Steam title. Empower is paid (17.99 USD).