Choose Kenshi
Choose Kenshi if you want an Action and RPG experience. 46,830 Steam reviews back the pick.
Kenshi vs Way of Defector
Kenshi and Way of Defector both land in Strategy, 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 Strategy, Indie, Simulation on Steam. Way of Defector (2017) is 1 year older than Kenshi (2018). Kenshi scores higher on Steam reviews (95.1% positive) than Way of Defector (73.3% 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 Way of Defector
Choose Way of Defector if it's currently about 90% cheaper on the Steam Store. Way of Defector launched in 2017.
Both Kenshi and Way of Defector sit in Strategy, 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
 Kenshi |  Way of Defector | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2018 | 2017 |
| Genres | Action, Strategy, Indie, Simulation, RPG | Strategy, Indie, Simulation |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | 29.99 USD | 2.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 95.1% positive (46,830 reviews) | 73.3% positive (15 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Lo-Fi Games | Dev Arc |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Indie, Simulation on Steam.
- Way of Defector (2017) is 1 year older than Kenshi (2018).
- Kenshi scores higher on Steam reviews (95.1% positive) than Way of Defector (73.3% positive).
- Way of Defector is currently ~90% cheaper on Steam than Kenshi (2.99 USD vs. 29.99 USD).
- Kenshi is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; Way of Defector has no Deck rating yet.
Kenshi vs Way of Defector — FAQ
- Should I play Kenshi or Way of Defector first?
- If you want chronology, Way of Defector (2017) came out before Kenshi (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 Kenshi and Way of Defector similar?
- They overlap on Strategy, 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 Kenshi run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Kenshi is rated Deck Playable by Valve. Way of Defector doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.