Choose Horizon
Choose Horizon if you want an Adventure, Simulation, and Free To Play experience. Horizon launched in 2014.
Horizon vs Stars in Shadow
Horizon and Stars in Shadow both land in Strategy, Indie 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 on Steam. Horizon (2014) is 3 years older than Stars in Shadow (2017). Stars in Shadow scores higher on Steam reviews (77.2% positive) than Horizon (58.1% 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 Stars in Shadow
Choose Stars in Shadow if it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 77.2% positive across 589 reviews.
Both Horizon and Stars in Shadow sit in Strategy and Indie 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
 Horizon |  Stars in Shadow | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2014 | 2017 |
| Genres | Strategy, Indie, Adventure, Simulation, Free To Play | Strategy, Indie |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Unrated |
| Price | 29.99 USD | 4.49 USD |
| Steam reviews | 58.1% positive (258 reviews) | 77.2% positive (589 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | L3O Interactive | Ashdar Games |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Indie on Steam.
- Horizon (2014) is 3 years older than Stars in Shadow (2017).
- Stars in Shadow scores higher on Steam reviews (77.2% positive) than Horizon (58.1% positive).
- Stars in Shadow is currently ~85% cheaper on Steam than Horizon (4.49 USD vs. 29.99 USD).
Horizon vs Stars in Shadow — FAQ
- Which is better, Horizon or Stars in Shadow?
- On Steam reviews Stars in Shadow scores higher (77.2% positive) than Horizon (58.1% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, Stars in Shadow is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.
- Should I play Horizon or Stars in Shadow first?
- If you want chronology, Horizon (2014) came out before Stars in Shadow (2017). 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 Horizon and Stars in Shadow similar?
- They overlap on Strategy, Indie 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.