Choose AirportSim
Choose AirportSim if you want an Indie and Casual experience. AirportSim launched in 2023.
AirportSim vs Illegal Simulator
AirportSim and Illegal Simulator both land in 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 are Simulation games on Steam. AirportSim (2023) is 1 year older than Illegal Simulator (2024). Illegal Simulator is currently ~74% cheaper on Steam than AirportSim (8.99 USD vs. 34.99 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 Illegal Simulator
Choose Illegal Simulator if you want a Strategy and Early Access experience. On Steam, it's currently about 74% cheaper on the Steam Store. Illegal Simulator launched in 2024.
Both AirportSim and Illegal Simulator sit in Simulation on Steam and both list Multi-player, Online Co-op, and 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
 AirportSim |  Illegal Simulator | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2023 | 2024 |
| Genres | Indie, Simulation, Casual | Strategy, Simulation, Early Access |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | 34.99 USD | 8.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 68.6% positive (711 reviews) | 9 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | MS GAMES, MK STUDIOS | Lost Nexus Studio |
Side by side
- Both are Simulation games on Steam.
- AirportSim (2023) is 1 year older than Illegal Simulator (2024).
- Illegal Simulator is currently ~74% cheaper on Steam than AirportSim (8.99 USD vs. 34.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
- AirportSim is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; Illegal Simulator has no Deck rating yet.
AirportSim vs Illegal Simulator — FAQ
- Should I play AirportSim or Illegal Simulator first?
- If you want chronology, AirportSim (2023) came out before Illegal Simulator (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 AirportSim and Illegal Simulator similar?
- They overlap on 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.
- Do both AirportSim and Illegal Simulator have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: AirportSim ships Online Co-op, Co-op; Illegal Simulator ships Online Co-op, Co-op.
- Does AirportSim run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — AirportSim is rated Deck Playable by Valve. Illegal Simulator doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.