Choose Kerbal Space Program
Choose Kerbal Space Program if it matches what drew you to this matchup. 77,731 Steam reviews back the pick.
Kerbal Space Program vs Starlight Explorers
Kerbal Space Program and Starlight Explorers both land in Indie, 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 Indie, Simulation on Steam. Kerbal Space Program (2015) is 6 years older than Starlight Explorers (2021). Starlight Explorers scores higher on Steam reviews (100% positive) than Kerbal Space Program (95.9% 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 Starlight Explorers
Choose Starlight Explorers if you want an Adventure and Casual experience. On Steam, it's currently about 85% cheaper on the Steam Store. Starlight Explorers launched in 2021.
Both Kerbal Space Program and Starlight Explorers sit in Indie and Simulation 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
 Kerbal Space Program |  Starlight Explorers | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2015 | 2021 |
| Genres | Indie, Simulation | Indie, Adventure, Simulation, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | 39.99 USD | 5.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 95.9% positive (77,731 reviews) | 100% positive (11 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Squad | Dire Kitten Games |
Side by side
- Both share Indie, Simulation on Steam.
- Kerbal Space Program (2015) is 6 years older than Starlight Explorers (2021).
- Starlight Explorers scores higher on Steam reviews (100% positive) than Kerbal Space Program (95.9% positive).
- Starlight Explorers is currently ~85% cheaper on Steam than Kerbal Space Program (5.99 USD vs. 39.99 USD).
- Kerbal Space Program is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; Starlight Explorers has no Deck rating yet.
Kerbal Space Program vs Starlight Explorers — FAQ
- Should I play Kerbal Space Program or Starlight Explorers first?
- If you want chronology, Kerbal Space Program (2015) came out before Starlight Explorers (2021). 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 Kerbal Space Program and Starlight Explorers similar?
- They overlap on Indie, 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.
- Does Kerbal Space Program run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Kerbal Space Program is rated Deck Playable by Valve. Starlight Explorers doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.