Choose Pixel Starships 2
Choose Pixel Starships 2 if you want a Massively Multiplayer, RPG, and Early Access experience. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. Pixel Starships 2 launched in 2025.
Pixel Starships 2 vs Riftborne
Pixel Starships 2 and Riftborne both land in Strategy, Simulation 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, Simulation on Steam. Pixel Starships 2 (2025) is 1 year older than Riftborne (2026). Riftborne scores higher on Steam reviews (97.8% positive) than Pixel Starships 2 (24% 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 Riftborne
Choose Riftborne if you want an Indie game with Online Co-op, Adjustable Text Size, and Color Alternatives. On Steam, it has co-op, so you can bring a friend. Riftborne launched in 2026.
Both Pixel Starships 2 and Riftborne sit in Strategy and Simulation 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
 Pixel Starships 2 |  Riftborne | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2025 | 2026 |
| Genres | Strategy, Simulation, Massively Multiplayer, RPG, Early Access | Strategy, Indie, Simulation |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Windows, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | Free to play | 6.79 USD |
| Steam reviews | 24% positive (196 reviews) | 97.8% positive (46 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | SavySoda | Pitio Productions |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Simulation on Steam.
- Pixel Starships 2 (2025) is 1 year older than Riftborne (2026).
- Riftborne scores higher on Steam reviews (97.8% positive) than Pixel Starships 2 (24% positive).
- Pixel Starships 2 is free; Riftborne is paid (6.79 USD).
- Riftborne has co-op; Pixel Starships 2 does not.
- Pixel Starships 2 is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; Riftborne has no Deck rating yet.
Pixel Starships 2 vs Riftborne — FAQ
- Should I play Pixel Starships 2 or Riftborne first?
- If you want chronology, Pixel Starships 2 (2025) came out before Riftborne (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 Pixel Starships 2 and Riftborne similar?
- They overlap on Strategy, Simulation 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 Pixel Starships 2 free?
- Yes — Pixel Starships 2 is a free-to-play Steam title. Riftborne is paid (6.79 USD).
- Does Pixel Starships 2 run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Pixel Starships 2 is rated Deck Playable by Valve. Riftborne doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.