Choose Kerbal Space Program
Choose Kerbal Space Program if you want an Indie experience. 77,731 Steam reviews back the pick.
Kerbal Space Program vs Rocket Engineer
Kerbal Space Program and Rocket Engineer both land in 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 are Simulation games on Steam. Kerbal Space Program (2015) is 11 years older than Rocket Engineer (2026). Kerbal Space Program scores higher on Steam reviews (95.9% positive) than Rocket Engineer (89.5% 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 Rocket Engineer
Choose Rocket Engineer if you want a Casual and Early Access game with Custom Volume Controls, Stereo Sound, and Surround Sound. On Steam, it's currently about 80% cheaper on the Steam Store. Rocket Engineer launched in 2026.
Both Kerbal Space Program and Rocket Engineer sit in 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 |  Rocket Engineer | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2015 | 2026 |
| Genres | Indie, Simulation | Simulation, Casual, Early Access |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | 39.99 USD | 7.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 95.9% positive (77,731 reviews) | 89.5% positive (19 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Squad | Xavier B. |
Side by side
- Both are Simulation games on Steam.
- Kerbal Space Program (2015) is 11 years older than Rocket Engineer (2026).
- Kerbal Space Program scores higher on Steam reviews (95.9% positive) than Rocket Engineer (89.5% positive).
- Rocket Engineer is currently ~80% cheaper on Steam than Kerbal Space Program (7.99 USD vs. 39.99 USD).
- Kerbal Space Program is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; Rocket Engineer has no Deck rating yet.
Kerbal Space Program vs Rocket Engineer — FAQ
- Should I play Kerbal Space Program or Rocket Engineer first?
- If you want chronology, Kerbal Space Program (2015) came out before Rocket Engineer (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 Kerbal Space Program and Rocket Engineer similar?
- They overlap on 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. Rocket Engineer doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.