Choose MapleStory
Choose MapleStory if it matches what drew you to this matchup. 12,891 Steam reviews back the pick.
MapleStory vs Elsword
MapleStory and Elsword both land in Action, Adventure, Massively Multiplayer 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 Action, Adventure, Massively Multiplayer on Steam. MapleStory (2012) is 2 years older than Elsword (2014). Elsword scores higher on Steam reviews (71% positive) than MapleStory (61.6% 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 Elsword
Choose Elsword if you want the Online PvP and PvP side of the pairing. On Steam, it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 71% positive across 6,379 reviews.
Both MapleStory and Elsword sit in Action, Adventure, and Massively Multiplayer on Steam and both list Multi-player, MMO, and Co-op, 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
 MapleStory |  Elsword | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2012 | 2014 |
| Genres | Action, Adventure, Massively Multiplayer, RPG, Free To Play, Casual | Action, Adventure, Massively Multiplayer, RPG, Free To Play, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Unsupported | Unrated |
| Price | Free to play | Free to play |
| Steam reviews | 61.6% positive (12,891 reviews) | 71% positive (6,379 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Co-op | Multi-player, Co-op |
| Developers | NEXON Korea Corporation | KOG |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Adventure, Massively Multiplayer on Steam.
- MapleStory (2012) is 2 years older than Elsword (2014).
- Elsword scores higher on Steam reviews (71% positive) than MapleStory (61.6% positive).
- Both are free to play.
- Both support cooperative play.
- MapleStory is Deck Unsupported on Steam Deck; Elsword has no Deck rating yet.
MapleStory vs Elsword — FAQ
- Which is better, MapleStory or Elsword?
- On Steam reviews Elsword scores higher (71% positive) than MapleStory (61.6% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, Elsword is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.
- Should I play MapleStory or Elsword first?
- If you want chronology, MapleStory (2012) came out before Elsword (2014). 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 MapleStory and Elsword similar?
- They overlap on Action, Adventure, Massively Multiplayer 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 both MapleStory and Elsword have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: MapleStory ships Co-op; Elsword ships Co-op.