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 Gem Rush
Small World and Gem Rush 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 5 years older than Gem Rush (2018). Gem Rush scores higher on Steam reviews (92.9% 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 Gem Rush
Choose Gem Rush if you want the Online Co-op, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, and Co-op side of the pairing. On Steam, it's the newer release (2018) and ships with the modern feature baseline. Gem Rush launched in 2018.
Both Small World and Gem Rush 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 |  Gem Rush | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2013 | 2018 |
| Genres | Strategy, Indie, Casual | Strategy, Indie, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | 9.99 USD | 9.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 68.9% positive (628 reviews) | 92.9% positive (14 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op |
| Developers | Days of Wonder | Quicksilver Software, Inc. |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Indie, Casual on Steam.
- Small World (2013) is 5 years older than Gem Rush (2018).
- Gem Rush scores higher on Steam reviews (92.9% positive) than Small World (68.9% positive).
- Gem Rush is currently ~0% cheaper on Steam than Small World (9.99 USD vs. 9.99 USD).
- Gem Rush has co-op; Small World does not.
- Small World is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; Gem Rush has no Deck rating yet.
Small World vs Gem Rush — FAQ
- Should I play Small World or Gem Rush first?
- If you want chronology, Small World (2013) came out before Gem Rush (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 Small World and Gem Rush 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.
- Does Small World run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Small World is rated Deck Playable by Valve. Gem Rush doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.