Choose StarMade
Choose StarMade if you want a Strategy, Indie, and Early Access game with Multi-player, Online PvP, and Shared/Split Screen PvP. On Steam, it has co-op, so you can bring a friend. 1,712 Steam reviews back the pick.
StarMade vs Star Journey
StarMade and Star Journey both land in Action, Adventure, Simulation 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 Action, Adventure, Simulation on Steam. StarMade (2014) is 12 years older than Star Journey (2026). StarMade has co-op; Star Journey 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 Star Journey
Choose Star Journey if you want the Custom Volume Controls, Stereo Sound, and Save Anytime side of the pairing. On Steam, it's the newer release (2026) and ships with the modern feature baseline. Star Journey launched in 2026.
Both StarMade and Star Journey sit in Action, Adventure, and Simulation 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
 StarMade |  Star Journey | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2014 | 2026 |
| Genres | Action, Strategy, Indie, Adventure, Simulation, RPG, Early Access | Action, Adventure, Simulation, RPG |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Unrated |
| Price | 14.99 USD | Price unknown |
| Steam reviews | 66.9% positive (1,712 reviews) | — |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op | Single-player only |
| Developers | Schine GmbH | GTGD |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Adventure, Simulation on Steam.
- StarMade (2014) is 12 years older than Star Journey (2026).
- StarMade has co-op; Star Journey does not.
StarMade vs Star Journey — FAQ
- Should I play StarMade or Star Journey first?
- If you want chronology, StarMade (2014) came out before Star Journey (2026). 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 Star Journey similar?
- They overlap on Action, Adventure, Simulation 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 Star Journey have multiplayer like StarMade?
- No. StarMade supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op), while Star Journey is listed as single-player only.