Choose Vae Victis
Choose Vae Victis if you want an Action and Casual experience. Vae Victis launched in 2023.
Vae Victis vs Smoke and Steel
Vae Victis and Smoke and Steel 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. Vae Victis (2023) is 4 years older than Smoke and Steel (2027). Smoke and Steel has co-op; Vae Victis does not. 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 Smoke and Steel
Choose Smoke and Steel if you want a Simulation game with Online Co-op, Camera Comfort, and Custom Volume Controls. On Steam, it's the newer release (2027) and ships with the modern feature baseline. Smoke and Steel launched in 2027.
Both Vae Victis and Smoke and Steel sit in Strategy and Indie on Steam and both list Multi-player, Online PvP, and 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
 Vae Victis |  Smoke and Steel | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2023 | 2027 |
| Genres | Action, Strategy, Indie, Casual | Strategy, Indie, Simulation |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Unrated |
| Price | 4.99 USD | Price unknown |
| Steam reviews | 69.2% positive (13 reviews) | — |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op |
| Developers | Nicholas Rizzo | Grenadier Games |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Indie on Steam.
- Vae Victis (2023) is 4 years older than Smoke and Steel (2027).
- Smoke and Steel has co-op; Vae Victis does not.
Vae Victis vs Smoke and Steel — FAQ
- Should I play Vae Victis or Smoke and Steel first?
- If you want chronology, Vae Victis (2023) came out before Smoke and Steel (2027). 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 Vae Victis and Smoke and Steel 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.