Choose Cortex Command
Choose Cortex Command if you want an Action and Strategy game with Multi-player and Shared/Split Screen. On Steam, it's currently about 20% cheaper on the Steam Store. 1,293 Steam reviews back the pick.
Cortex Command vs Oxygen Not Included
Cortex Command and Oxygen Not Included both land in Indie 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 Indie games on Steam. Cortex Command (2012) is 7 years older than Oxygen Not Included (2019). Oxygen Not Included scores higher on Steam reviews (96% positive) than Cortex Command (79.6% 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 Oxygen Not Included
Choose Oxygen Not Included if you want a Simulation experience. On Steam, it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 96% positive across 48,352 reviews.
Both Cortex Command and Oxygen Not Included sit in Indie on Steam, 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
 Cortex Command |  Oxygen Not Included | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2012 | 2019 |
| Genres | Action, Strategy, Indie | Indie, Simulation |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Deck Unsupported | Deck Verified |
| Price | 19.99 USD | 24.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 79.6% positive (1,293 reviews) | 96% positive (48,352 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player | Single-player only |
| Developers | Data Realms | Klei Entertainment |
Side by side
- Both are Indie games on Steam.
- Cortex Command (2012) is 7 years older than Oxygen Not Included (2019).
- Oxygen Not Included scores higher on Steam reviews (96% positive) than Cortex Command (79.6% positive).
- Cortex Command is currently ~20% cheaper on Steam than Oxygen Not Included (19.99 USD vs. 24.99 USD).
- Steam Deck: Cortex Command is Deck Unsupported, Oxygen Not Included is Deck Verified.
Cortex Command vs Oxygen Not Included — FAQ
- Which is better, Cortex Command or Oxygen Not Included?
- On Steam reviews Oxygen Not Included scores higher (96% positive) than Cortex Command (79.6% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, Oxygen Not Included is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.
- Should I play Cortex Command or Oxygen Not Included first?
- If you want chronology, Cortex Command (2012) came out before Oxygen Not Included (2019). 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 Cortex Command and Oxygen Not Included similar?
- They overlap on Indie 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.
- Does Oxygen Not Included have multiplayer like Cortex Command?
- No. Cortex Command supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player), while Oxygen Not Included is listed as single-player only.