Choose Starbound
Choose Starbound if you want an Action game with Multi-player, Online PvP, and Online Co-op. On Steam, it has co-op, so you can bring a friend. 51,728 Steam reviews back the pick.
Starbound vs waxweaver
Starbound and waxweaver both land in Indie, Adventure, RPG 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 Indie, Adventure, RPG on Steam. Starbound (2016) is 9 years older than waxweaver (2025). waxweaver scores higher on Steam reviews (95.7% positive) than Starbound (88.8% 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 waxweaver
Choose waxweaver if you want a Simulation and Free To Play experience. On Steam, it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 95.7% positive across 323 reviews.
Both Starbound and waxweaver sit in Indie, Adventure, and RPG 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
 Starbound |  waxweaver | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2016 | 2025 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Adventure, RPG, Casual | Indie, Adventure, Simulation, RPG, Free To Play, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | 14.99 USD | Free to play |
| Steam reviews | 88.8% positive (51,728 reviews) | 95.7% positive (323 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op | Single-player only |
| Developers | Chucklefish | kaiakairos |
Side by side
- Both share Indie, Adventure, RPG on Steam.
- Starbound (2016) is 9 years older than waxweaver (2025).
- waxweaver scores higher on Steam reviews (95.7% positive) than Starbound (88.8% positive).
- waxweaver is free; Starbound is paid (14.99 USD).
- Starbound has co-op; waxweaver does not.
- Starbound is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; waxweaver has no Deck rating yet.
Starbound vs waxweaver — FAQ
- Which is better, Starbound or waxweaver?
- On Steam reviews waxweaver scores higher (95.7% positive) than Starbound (88.8% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, waxweaver is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.
- Should I play Starbound or waxweaver first?
- If you want chronology, Starbound (2016) came out before waxweaver (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 Starbound and waxweaver similar?
- They overlap on Indie, Adventure, RPG 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 waxweaver have multiplayer like Starbound?
- No. Starbound supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op), while waxweaver is listed as single-player only.
- Is waxweaver free?
- Yes — waxweaver is a free-to-play Steam title. Starbound is paid (14.99 USD).
- Does Starbound run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Starbound is rated Deck Playable by Valve. waxweaver doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.