Choose Small World
Choose Small World if you want the Shared/Split Screen and LAN PvP side of the pairing. Small World launched in 2013.
Small World vs Patchwork
Small World and Patchwork both land in Strategy, Indie, Casual 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, Casual on Steam. Small World (2013) is 3 years older than Patchwork (2016). Patchwork scores higher on Steam reviews (77.6% positive) than Small World (68.9% 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 Patchwork
Choose Patchwork if it's currently about 30% cheaper on the Steam Store. Patchwork launched in 2016.
Both Small World and Patchwork sit in Strategy, Indie, and Casual on Steam and both list Multi-player, Steam Turn Notifications, and Online PvP, 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
 Small World |  Patchwork | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2013 | 2016 |
| Genres | Strategy, Indie, Casual | Strategy, Indie, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Deck Playable |
| Price | 9.99 USD | 6.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 68.9% positive (628 reviews) | 77.6% positive (76 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer |
| Developers | Days of Wonder | DIGIDICED |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Indie, Casual on Steam.
- Small World (2013) is 3 years older than Patchwork (2016).
- Patchwork scores higher on Steam reviews (77.6% positive) than Small World (68.9% positive).
- Patchwork is currently ~30% cheaper on Steam than Small World (6.99 USD vs. 9.99 USD).
- Both are Deck Playable.
Small World vs Patchwork — FAQ
- Should I play Small World or Patchwork first?
- If you want chronology, Small World (2013) came out before Patchwork (2016). 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 Small World and Patchwork similar?
- They overlap on Strategy, Indie, Casual 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.