Choose Rust
Choose Rust if you want a Massively Multiplayer and RPG game with MMO, Adjustable Text Size, and Subtitle Options. 519,643 Steam reviews back the pick.
Rust vs Unturned
Rust and Unturned both land in Action, Indie, Adventure 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, Indie, Adventure on Steam. Unturned (2017) is 1 year older than Rust (2018). Unturned scores higher on Steam reviews (90.8% positive) than Rust (86.7% 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 Unturned
Choose Unturned if you want a Free To Play and Casual game with LAN PvP, LAN Co-op, and Playable without Timed Input. On Steam, it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 90.8% positive across 220,437 reviews.
Both Rust and Unturned sit in Action, Indie, and Adventure 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
 Rust |  Unturned | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2018 | 2017 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Adventure, Massively Multiplayer, RPG | Action, Indie, Adventure, Free To Play, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Deck Unsupported | Deck Playable |
| Price | 39.99 USD | Free to play |
| Steam reviews | 86.7% positive (519,643 reviews) | 90.8% positive (220,437 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op | Multi-player, Online Co-op, LAN Co-op |
| Developers | Facepunch Studios | Smartly Dressed Games |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie, Adventure on Steam.
- Unturned (2017) is 1 year older than Rust (2018).
- Unturned scores higher on Steam reviews (90.8% positive) than Rust (86.7% positive).
- Unturned is free; Rust is paid (39.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
- Steam Deck: Rust is Deck Unsupported, Unturned is Deck Playable.
Rust vs Unturned — FAQ
- Which is better, Rust or Unturned?
- On Steam reviews Unturned scores higher (90.8% positive) than Rust (86.7% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, Unturned is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.
- Should I play Rust or Unturned first?
- If you want chronology, Unturned (2017) came out before Rust (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 Rust and Unturned similar?
- They overlap on Action, Indie, Adventure 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 Rust and Unturned have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: Rust ships Online Co-op, Co-op; Unturned ships Online Co-op, LAN Co-op.
- Is Unturned free?
- Yes — Unturned is a free-to-play Steam title. Rust is paid (39.99 USD).