Choose StarVaders
Choose StarVaders if you want an Adventure game with Color Alternatives, Camera Comfort, and Custom Volume Controls. 2,110 Steam reviews back the pick.
StarVaders vs Cobalt Core
StarVaders and Cobalt Core both land in Strategy, 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 share Strategy, Indie on Steam. Cobalt Core (2023) is 2 years older than StarVaders (2025). StarVaders scores higher on Steam reviews (98.5% positive) than Cobalt Core (96.6% 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 Cobalt Core
Choose Cobalt Core if it's currently about 54% cheaper on the Steam Store. 3,263 Steam reviews back the pick.
Both StarVaders and Cobalt Core sit in Strategy and Indie on Steam, so either pick lands in the same broad neighborhood. Steam reviews are nearly tied (98.5% vs 96.6% positive), so genre fit is the cleanest tiebreaker — scroll the table for the feature-by-feature view.
Side-by-side comparison
 StarVaders |  Cobalt Core | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2025 | 2023 |
| Genres | Strategy, Indie, Adventure | Strategy, Indie |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Windows, macOS |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Deck Verified |
| Price | 17.49 USD | 7.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 98.5% positive (2,110 reviews) | 96.6% positive (3,263 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Pengonauts | Rocket Rat Games |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Indie on Steam.
- Cobalt Core (2023) is 2 years older than StarVaders (2025).
- StarVaders scores higher on Steam reviews (98.5% positive) than Cobalt Core (96.6% positive).
- Cobalt Core is currently ~54% cheaper on Steam than StarVaders (7.99 USD vs. 17.49 USD).
- Both are Deck Verified.
StarVaders vs Cobalt Core — FAQ
- Which is better, StarVaders or Cobalt Core?
- On Steam reviews the two are nearly tied: StarVaders sits at 98.5% positive (2,110 reviews), Cobalt Core at 96.6% (3,263). The choice usually comes down to genre fit and the platform features each one supports — see the comparison table above.
- Should I play StarVaders or Cobalt Core first?
- If you want chronology, Cobalt Core (2023) came out before StarVaders (2025). 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 StarVaders and Cobalt Core similar?
- They overlap on Strategy, 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.
- Do StarVaders and Cobalt Core both run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — both are Steam Deck Verified, meaning Valve confirms they run with full controller support, legible text, and default settings out of the box.