Choose StarMade
Choose StarMade if you want an Action, Adventure, and Simulation game with Shared/Split Screen PvP and Shared/Split Screen Co-op. 1,712 Steam reviews back the pick.
StarMade vs Istrolid
StarMade and Istrolid 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. StarMade (2014) is 2 years older than Istrolid (2016). Istrolid scores higher on Steam reviews (87.1% positive) than StarMade (66.9% 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 Istrolid
Choose Istrolid if you want a Free To Play experience. On Steam, it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 87.1% positive across 1,969 reviews.
Both StarMade and Istrolid sit in Strategy and Indie on Steam and both list Multi-player, Online PvP, and Online Co-op, 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
 StarMade |  Istrolid | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2014 | 2016 |
| Genres | Action, Strategy, Indie, Adventure, Simulation, RPG, Early Access | Strategy, Indie, Free To Play |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Unrated |
| Price | 14.99 USD | Free to play |
| Steam reviews | 66.9% positive (1,712 reviews) | 87.1% positive (1,969 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op |
| Developers | Schine GmbH | treeform |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Indie on Steam.
- StarMade (2014) is 2 years older than Istrolid (2016).
- Istrolid scores higher on Steam reviews (87.1% positive) than StarMade (66.9% positive).
- Istrolid is free; StarMade is paid (14.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
StarMade vs Istrolid — FAQ
- Which is better, StarMade or Istrolid?
- On Steam reviews Istrolid scores higher (87.1% positive) than StarMade (66.9% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, Istrolid is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.
- Should I play StarMade or Istrolid first?
- If you want chronology, StarMade (2014) came out before Istrolid (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 StarMade and Istrolid 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.
- Do both StarMade and Istrolid have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: StarMade ships Online Co-op, Shared/Split Screen Co-op; Istrolid ships Online Co-op, Co-op.
- Is Istrolid free?
- Yes — Istrolid is a free-to-play Steam title. StarMade is paid (14.99 USD).