Choose Grim Dawn
Choose Grim Dawn if you want the Multi-player, Online Co-op, and LAN Co-op side of the pairing. On Steam, it has co-op, so you can bring a friend. 39,041 Steam reviews back the pick.
Grim Dawn vs Empyreal
Grim Dawn and Empyreal both land in Action, Indie, Adventure 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, Indie, Adventure on Steam. Grim Dawn (2016) is 9 years older than Empyreal (2025). Grim Dawn scores higher on Steam reviews (95.1% positive) than Empyreal (76.1% 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 Empyreal
Choose Empyreal if it's currently about 40% cheaper on the Steam Store. Empyreal launched in 2025.
Both Grim Dawn and Empyreal sit in Action, Indie, and Adventure 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
 Grim Dawn |  Empyreal | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2016 | 2025 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Adventure, RPG | Action, Indie, Adventure, RPG |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Deck Verified |
| Price | 24.99 USD | 14.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 95.1% positive (39,041 reviews) | 76.1% positive (88 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Online Co-op, LAN Co-op | Single-player only |
| Developers | Crate Entertainment | Silent Games |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie, Adventure on Steam.
- Grim Dawn (2016) is 9 years older than Empyreal (2025).
- Grim Dawn scores higher on Steam reviews (95.1% positive) than Empyreal (76.1% positive).
- Empyreal is currently ~40% cheaper on Steam than Grim Dawn (14.99 USD vs. 24.99 USD).
- Grim Dawn has co-op; Empyreal does not.
- Steam Deck: Grim Dawn is Deck Playable, Empyreal is Deck Verified.
Grim Dawn vs Empyreal — FAQ
- Should I play Grim Dawn or Empyreal first?
- If you want chronology, Grim Dawn (2016) came out before Empyreal (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 Grim Dawn and Empyreal similar?
- They overlap on Action, Indie, Adventure 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 Empyreal have multiplayer like Grim Dawn?
- No. Grim Dawn supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player, Online Co-op, LAN Co-op), while Empyreal is listed as single-player only.