Choose Rust
Choose Rust if you want a Massively Multiplayer game with Multi-player, MMO, and Online PvP. On Steam, it has co-op, so you can bring a friend. 519,643 Steam reviews back the pick.
Rust vs Project Cobalt
Rust and Project Cobalt 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 8 years older than Project Cobalt (2026). Rust scores higher on Steam reviews (86.7% positive) than Project Cobalt (74.1% 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 Project Cobalt
Choose Project Cobalt if you want a Strategy and Simulation game with Playable without Timed Input and Save Anytime. On Steam, it's currently about 73% cheaper on the Steam Store. Project Cobalt launched in 2026.
Both Rust and Project Cobalt sit in Action, Indie, and Adventure on Steam and both list Custom Volume Controls and Stereo Sound, 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 |  Project Cobalt | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2018 | 2026 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Adventure, Massively Multiplayer, RPG | Action, Strategy, Indie, Adventure, Simulation, RPG |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Unsupported | Deck Playable |
| Price | 39.99 USD | 10.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 86.7% positive (519,643 reviews) | 74.1% positive (58 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op | Single-player only |
| Developers | Facepunch Studios | OxygenStudio |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie, Adventure on Steam.
- Rust (2018) is 8 years older than Project Cobalt (2026).
- Rust scores higher on Steam reviews (86.7% positive) than Project Cobalt (74.1% positive).
- Project Cobalt is currently ~73% cheaper on Steam than Rust (10.99 USD vs. 39.99 USD).
- Rust has co-op; Project Cobalt does not.
- Steam Deck: Rust is Deck Unsupported, Project Cobalt is Deck Playable.
Rust vs Project Cobalt — FAQ
- Should I play Rust or Project Cobalt first?
- If you want chronology, Rust (2018) came out before Project Cobalt (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 Rust and Project Cobalt 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.
- Does Project Cobalt have multiplayer like Rust?
- No. Rust supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op), while Project Cobalt is listed as single-player only.