Choose Kenshi
Choose Kenshi if you want an Action experience. 46,830 Steam reviews back the pick.
Kenshi vs Chaos Theory
Kenshi and Chaos Theory 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. Kenshi (2018) is 1 year older than Chaos Theory (2019). Kenshi scores higher on Steam reviews (95.1% positive) than Chaos Theory (41.7% 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 Chaos Theory
Choose Chaos Theory if you want an Adventure and Early Access experience. On Steam, it's currently about 53% cheaper on the Steam Store. Chaos Theory launched in 2019.
Both Kenshi and Chaos Theory 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 |  Chaos Theory | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2018 | 2019 |
| Genres | Action, Strategy, Indie, Simulation, RPG | Strategy, Indie, Adventure, Simulation, RPG, Early Access |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | 29.99 USD | 13.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 95.1% positive (46,830 reviews) | 41.7% positive (12 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Lo-Fi Games | Chaos Theory Studios Ltd. |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Indie, Simulation on Steam.
- Kenshi (2018) is 1 year older than Chaos Theory (2019).
- Kenshi scores higher on Steam reviews (95.1% positive) than Chaos Theory (41.7% positive).
- Chaos Theory is currently ~53% cheaper on Steam than Kenshi (13.99 USD vs. 29.99 USD).
- Kenshi is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; Chaos Theory has no Deck rating yet.
Kenshi vs Chaos Theory — FAQ
- Should I play Kenshi or Chaos Theory first?
- If you want chronology, Kenshi (2018) came out before Chaos Theory (2019). 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 Chaos Theory 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. Chaos Theory doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.