Choose Space Empires IV Deluxe
Choose Space Empires IV Deluxe if it matches what drew you to this matchup. Space Empires IV Deluxe launched in 2006.
Space Empires IV Deluxe vs Sword of the Stars: Complete Collection
Space Empires IV Deluxe and Sword of the Stars: Complete Collection both land in Strategy 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 Strategy games on Steam. Space Empires IV Deluxe (2006) is 4 years older than Sword of the Stars: Complete Collection (2010). Sword of the Stars: Complete Collection scores higher on Steam reviews (89% positive) than Space Empires IV Deluxe (87.9% 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 Sword of the Stars: Complete Collection
Choose Sword of the Stars: Complete Collection if you want the Online PvP and PvP side of the pairing. On Steam, it's currently about 38% cheaper on the Steam Store. Sword of the Stars: Complete Collection launched in 2010.
Both Space Empires IV Deluxe and Sword of the Stars: Complete Collection sit in Strategy on Steam and both list Multi-player, so either pick lands in the same broad neighborhood. Steam reviews are nearly tied (87.9% vs 89% positive), so genre fit is the cleanest tiebreaker — scroll the table for the feature-by-feature view.
Side-by-side comparison
 Space Empires IV Deluxe |  Sword of the Stars: Complete Collection | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2006 | 2010 |
| Genres | Strategy | Strategy |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Deck Unsupported |
| Price | 3.99 USD | 2.49 USD |
| Steam reviews | 87.9% positive (214 reviews) | 89% positive (517 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player | Multi-player |
| Developers | Malfador Machinations | Kerberos Productions Inc. |
Side by side
- Both are Strategy games on Steam.
- Space Empires IV Deluxe (2006) is 4 years older than Sword of the Stars: Complete Collection (2010).
- Sword of the Stars: Complete Collection scores higher on Steam reviews (89% positive) than Space Empires IV Deluxe (87.9% positive).
- Sword of the Stars: Complete Collection is currently ~38% cheaper on Steam than Space Empires IV Deluxe (2.49 USD vs. 3.99 USD).
- Steam Deck: Space Empires IV Deluxe is Deck Playable, Sword of the Stars: Complete Collection is Deck Unsupported.
Space Empires IV Deluxe vs Sword of the Stars: Complete Collection — FAQ
- Which is better, Space Empires IV Deluxe or Sword of the Stars: Complete Collection?
- On Steam reviews the two are nearly tied: Space Empires IV Deluxe sits at 87.9% positive (214 reviews), Sword of the Stars: Complete Collection at 89% (517). The choice usually comes down to genre fit and the platform features each one supports — see the comparison table above.
- Should I play Space Empires IV Deluxe or Sword of the Stars: Complete Collection first?
- If you want chronology, Space Empires IV Deluxe (2006) came out before Sword of the Stars: Complete Collection (2010). 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 Space Empires IV Deluxe and Sword of the Stars: Complete Collection similar?
- They overlap on Strategy 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.