Choose Sanctum 2
Choose Sanctum 2 if you want an Action game with Multi-player, Online Co-op, and Co-op. On Steam, it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. 4,330 Steam reviews back the pick.
Sanctum 2 vs Escape From The Red Planet
Sanctum 2 and Escape From The Red Planet 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. Sanctum 2 (2013) is 10 years older than Escape From The Red Planet (2023). Escape From The Red Planet is currently ~60% cheaper on Steam than Sanctum 2 (5.99 USD vs. 14.99 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 Escape From The Red Planet
Choose Escape From The Red Planet if you want a Casual experience. On Steam, it's currently about 60% cheaper on the Steam Store. Escape From The Red Planet launched in 2023.
Both Sanctum 2 and Escape From The Red Planet sit in Strategy and Indie on Steam and both list Steam Leaderboards, 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
 Sanctum 2 |  Escape From The Red Planet | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2013 | 2023 |
| Genres | Action, Strategy, Indie | Strategy, Indie, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Unrated |
| Price | 14.99 USD | 5.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 92.3% positive (4,330 reviews) | 2 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op | Single-player only |
| Developers | Coffee Stain Studios | Frosty Pop |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Indie on Steam.
- Sanctum 2 (2013) is 10 years older than Escape From The Red Planet (2023).
- Escape From The Red Planet is currently ~60% cheaper on Steam than Sanctum 2 (5.99 USD vs. 14.99 USD).
- Sanctum 2 has co-op; Escape From The Red Planet does not.
- Sanctum 2 is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Escape From The Red Planet has no Deck rating yet.
Sanctum 2 vs Escape From The Red Planet — FAQ
- Should I play Sanctum 2 or Escape From The Red Planet first?
- If you want chronology, Sanctum 2 (2013) came out before Escape From The Red Planet (2023). 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 Sanctum 2 and Escape From The Red Planet 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.
- Does Escape From The Red Planet have multiplayer like Sanctum 2?
- No. Sanctum 2 supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op), while Escape From The Red Planet is listed as single-player only.
- Does Sanctum 2 run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Sanctum 2 is rated Deck Verified by Valve. Escape From The Red Planet doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.