Choose Game Dev Tycoon
Choose Game Dev Tycoon if you want a Strategy and Simulation experience. 22,051 Steam reviews back the pick.
Game Dev Tycoon vs SMASH IT
Game Dev Tycoon and SMASH IT both land in 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 Indie, Casual on Steam. Game Dev Tycoon (2013) is 5 years older than SMASH IT (2018). SMASH IT is currently ~90% cheaper on Steam than Game Dev Tycoon (0.99 USD vs. 9.99 USD). 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 SMASH IT
Choose SMASH IT if it's currently about 90% cheaper on the Steam Store. SMASH IT launched in 2018.
Both Game Dev Tycoon and SMASH IT sit in Indie and Casual 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
 Game Dev Tycoon |  SMASH IT | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2013 | 2018 |
| Genres | Strategy, Indie, Simulation, Casual | Indie, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Deck Playable |
| Price | 9.99 USD | 0.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 94.5% positive (22,051 reviews) | 4 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Greenheart Games 💚 | Cow Corp. |
Side by side
- Both share Indie, Casual on Steam.
- Game Dev Tycoon (2013) is 5 years older than SMASH IT (2018).
- SMASH IT is currently ~90% cheaper on Steam than Game Dev Tycoon (0.99 USD vs. 9.99 USD).
- Both are Deck Playable.
Game Dev Tycoon vs SMASH IT — FAQ
- Should I play Game Dev Tycoon or SMASH IT first?
- If you want chronology, Game Dev Tycoon (2013) came out before SMASH IT (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 Game Dev Tycoon and SMASH IT similar?
- They overlap on 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.