Choose Rust
Choose Rust if you want a RPG game with MMO, Adjustable Text Size, and Subtitle Options. On Steam, it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 86.7% positive across 519,643 reviews.
Rust vs Lost Rift
Rust and Lost Rift 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. Rust (2018) is 7 years older than Lost Rift (2025). Rust scores higher on Steam reviews (86.7% positive) than Lost Rift (74.4% 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 Lost Rift
Choose Lost Rift if you want a Simulation and Early Access game with Playable without Timed Input. On Steam, it's the newer release (2025) and ships with the modern feature baseline. Lost Rift launched in 2025.
Both Rust and Lost Rift 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 |  Lost Rift | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2018 | 2025 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Adventure, Massively Multiplayer, RPG | Action, Indie, Adventure, Simulation, Massively Multiplayer, Early Access |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Unsupported | Deck Verified |
| Price | 19.99 USD | 24.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 86.7% positive (519,643 reviews) | 74.4% positive (583 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | Facepunch Studios | People Can Fly |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie, Adventure on Steam.
- Rust (2018) is 7 years older than Lost Rift (2025).
- Rust scores higher on Steam reviews (86.7% positive) than Lost Rift (74.4% positive).
- Rust is currently ~20% cheaper on Steam than Lost Rift (19.99 USD vs. 24.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
- Steam Deck: Rust is Deck Unsupported, Lost Rift is Deck Verified.
Rust vs Lost Rift — FAQ
- Which is better, Rust or Lost Rift?
- On Steam reviews Rust scores higher (86.7% positive) than Lost Rift (74.4% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, Rust 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 Lost Rift first?
- If you want chronology, Rust (2018) came out before Lost Rift (2025). 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 Lost Rift 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 Lost Rift have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: Rust ships Online Co-op, Co-op; Lost Rift ships Online Co-op, Co-op.