Should I play Fortune Avenue or Ruthless Returns first?

If you want chronology, Fortune Avenue (2025) came out before Ruthless Returns (2026). 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 Fortune Avenue and Ruthless Returns similar?

They overlap on Strategy, Indie, Casual 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 Fortune Avenue and Ruthless Returns have co-op?

Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: Fortune Avenue ships Online Co-op, Shared/Split Screen Co-op; Ruthless Returns ships Online Co-op, Shared/Split Screen Co-op.

Is Ruthless Returns free?

Yes — Ruthless Returns is a free-to-play Steam title. Fortune Avenue is paid (6.99 USD).

Does Fortune Avenue run on Steam Deck?

Yes — Fortune Avenue is rated Deck Verified by Valve. Ruthless Returns doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.

Fortune Avenue vs Ruthless Returns

Fortune Avenue and Ruthless Returns both land in Strategy, Indie, Casual 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 Strategy, Indie, Casual on Steam. Fortune Avenue (2025) is 1 year older than Ruthless Returns (2026). Ruthless Returns is free; Fortune Avenue is paid (6.99 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 Fortune Avenue

Choose Fortune Avenue if you want a Simulation, Massively Multiplayer, and Early Access game with Steam Leaderboards, Camera Comfort, and Custom Volume Controls. On Steam, it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. Fortune Avenue launched in 2025.

Choose Ruthless Returns

Choose Ruthless Returns if you want a Free To Play experience. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. Ruthless Returns launched in 2026.

Both Fortune Avenue and Ruthless Returns sit in Strategy, Indie, and Casual on Steam and both list Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen, and Online PvP, 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.

Fortune Avenue vs Ruthless Returns — Steam metadata comparison
	Fortune Avenue	Ruthless Returns
Released	2025	2026
Genres	Strategy, Indie, Simulation, Massively Multiplayer, Casual, Early Access	Strategy, Indie, Free To Play, Casual
Platforms	Windows, Linux	Windows
Steam Deck	Deck Verified	Unrated
Price	6.99 USD	Free to play
Steam reviews	87.5% positive (24 reviews)	1 reviews
Multiplayer	Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op	Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op
Developers	Binogure Studio 🐺	South Harbour Studios

Side by side

Both share Strategy, Indie, Casual on Steam.
Fortune Avenue (2025) is 1 year older than Ruthless Returns (2026).
Ruthless Returns is free; Fortune Avenue is paid (6.99 USD).
Both support cooperative play.
Fortune Avenue is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Ruthless Returns has no Deck rating yet.