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 Space Launch Engineer
Kerbal Space Program and Space Launch Engineer 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 3 years older than Space Launch Engineer (2018). Kerbal Space Program scores higher on Steam reviews (95.9% positive) than Space Launch Engineer (0% 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 Space Launch Engineer
Choose Space Launch Engineer if it's the newer release (2018) and ships with the modern feature baseline. Space Launch Engineer launched in 2018.
Both Kerbal Space Program and Space Launch Engineer 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 |  Space Launch Engineer | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2015 | 2018 |
| Genres | Indie, Simulation | Indie, Simulation |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | 39.99 USD | Price unknown |
| Steam reviews | 95.9% positive (77,731 reviews) | 0% positive (11 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Squad | Simulators Live |
Side by side
- Both share Indie, Simulation on Steam.
- Kerbal Space Program (2015) is 3 years older than Space Launch Engineer (2018).
- Kerbal Space Program scores higher on Steam reviews (95.9% positive) than Space Launch Engineer (0% positive).
- Kerbal Space Program is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; Space Launch Engineer has no Deck rating yet.
Kerbal Space Program vs Space Launch Engineer — FAQ
- Should I play Kerbal Space Program or Space Launch Engineer first?
- If you want chronology, Kerbal Space Program (2015) came out before Space Launch Engineer (2018). 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 Space Launch Engineer 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. Space Launch Engineer doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.