IMHO.

Shadowrun Returns vs Shadowrun: Hong Kong - Extended Edition

Shadowrun Returns and Shadowrun: Hong Kong - Extended Edition both land in Strategy, Indie, Adventure 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, Adventure on Steam. Shadowrun Returns (2013) is 2 years older than Shadowrun: Hong Kong - Extended Edition (2015). Shadowrun Returns scores higher on Steam reviews (89% positive) than Shadowrun: Hong Kong - Extended Edition (87% 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 Shadowrun Returns

Choose Shadowrun Returns if it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 89% positive across 6,718 reviews.

Choose Shadowrun: Hong Kong - Extended Edition

Choose Shadowrun: Hong Kong - Extended Edition if it matches what drew you to this matchup. 2,764 Steam reviews back the pick.

Both Shadowrun Returns and Shadowrun: Hong Kong - Extended Edition sit in Strategy, Indie, and Adventure 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

Shadowrun Returns vs Shadowrun: Hong Kong - Extended Edition — Steam metadata comparison
Shadowrun Returns — Steam game coverShadowrun ReturnsShadowrun: Hong Kong - Extended Edition — Steam game coverShadowrun: Hong Kong - Extended Edition
Released20132015
GenresStrategy, Indie, Adventure, RPGStrategy, Indie, Adventure, RPG
PlatformsWindows, macOS, LinuxWindows, macOS, Linux
Steam DeckDeck PlayableDeck Playable
Price3.74 USD4.99 USD
Steam reviews89% positive (6,718 reviews)87% positive (2,764 reviews)
MultiplayerSingle-player onlySingle-player only
DevelopersHarebrained SchemesHarebrained Schemes

Side by side

Shadowrun Returns vs Shadowrun: Hong Kong - Extended Edition — FAQ

Which is better, Shadowrun Returns or Shadowrun: Hong Kong - Extended Edition?
On Steam reviews Shadowrun Returns scores higher (89% positive) than Shadowrun: Hong Kong - Extended Edition (87% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, Shadowrun Returns is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.
Should I play Shadowrun Returns or Shadowrun: Hong Kong - Extended Edition first?
If you want chronology, Shadowrun Returns (2013) came out before Shadowrun: Hong Kong - Extended Edition (2015). 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 Shadowrun Returns and Shadowrun: Hong Kong - Extended Edition similar?
They overlap on Strategy, Indie, Adventure 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.
Shadowrun Returns vs Shadowrun: Hong Kong - Extended Edition · imho.run