Choose Stardust Exile
Choose Stardust Exile if you want an Indie and Simulation game with MMO, Online Co-op, and Co-op. On Steam, it has co-op, so you can bring a friend. Stardust Exile launched in 2024.
Stardust Exile vs Hexpand
Stardust Exile and Hexpand both land in Strategy, Massively Multiplayer 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, Massively Multiplayer on Steam. Stardust Exile (2024) is 2 years older than Hexpand (2026). Hexpand is free; Stardust Exile is paid (19.99 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 Hexpand
Choose Hexpand if you want a Free To Play and Casual experience. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. Hexpand launched in 2026.
Both Stardust Exile and Hexpand sit in Strategy and Massively Multiplayer on Steam and both list Multi-player, Online PvP, and 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.
Side-by-side comparison
 Stardust Exile |  Hexpand | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2024 | 2026 |
| Genres | Strategy, Indie, Simulation, Massively Multiplayer | Strategy, Massively Multiplayer, Free To Play, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows, Linux | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | 19.99 USD | Free to play |
| Steam reviews | 68.4% positive (19 reviews) | — |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer |
| Developers | Apseren | kafk |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Massively Multiplayer on Steam.
- Stardust Exile (2024) is 2 years older than Hexpand (2026).
- Hexpand is free; Stardust Exile is paid (19.99 USD).
- Stardust Exile has co-op; Hexpand does not.
- Stardust Exile is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; Hexpand has no Deck rating yet.
Stardust Exile vs Hexpand — FAQ
- Should I play Stardust Exile or Hexpand first?
- If you want chronology, Stardust Exile (2024) came out before Hexpand (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 Stardust Exile and Hexpand similar?
- They overlap on Strategy, Massively Multiplayer 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.
- Is Hexpand free?
- Yes — Hexpand is a free-to-play Steam title. Stardust Exile is paid (19.99 USD).
- Does Stardust Exile run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Stardust Exile is rated Deck Playable by Valve. Hexpand doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.