Choose Rust
Choose Rust if you want an Indie and Massively Multiplayer game with MMO, Online PvP, and PvP. On Steam, it's currently about 29% cheaper on the Steam Store. 519,643 Steam reviews back the pick.
Rust vs Abiotic Factor
Rust and Abiotic Factor both land in Action, Adventure, RPG 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, RPG on Steam. Rust (2018) is 7 years older than Abiotic Factor (2025). Abiotic Factor scores higher on Steam reviews (96.5% 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 Abiotic Factor
Choose Abiotic Factor if you want a Simulation game with LAN Co-op, Playable without Timed Input, and Save Anytime. On Steam, it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 96.5% positive across 26,314 reviews.
Both Rust and Abiotic Factor sit in Action, Adventure, and RPG on Steam and both list Multi-player, Online Co-op, and Adjustable Text Size, 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 |  Abiotic Factor | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2018 | 2025 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Adventure, Massively Multiplayer, RPG | Action, Adventure, Simulation, RPG |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Unsupported | Deck Playable |
| Price | 19.99 USD | 27.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 86.7% positive (519,643 reviews) | 96.5% positive (26,314 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op |
| Developers | Facepunch Studios | Deep Field Games |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Adventure, RPG on Steam.
- Rust (2018) is 7 years older than Abiotic Factor (2025).
- Abiotic Factor scores higher on Steam reviews (96.5% positive) than Rust (86.7% positive).
- Rust is currently ~29% cheaper on Steam than Abiotic Factor (19.99 USD vs. 27.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
- Steam Deck: Rust is Deck Unsupported, Abiotic Factor is Deck Playable.
Rust vs Abiotic Factor — FAQ
- Which is better, Rust or Abiotic Factor?
- On Steam reviews Abiotic Factor scores higher (96.5% positive) than Rust (86.7% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, Abiotic Factor 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 Abiotic Factor first?
- If you want chronology, Rust (2018) came out before Abiotic Factor (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 Abiotic Factor similar?
- They overlap on Action, Adventure, RPG 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 Abiotic Factor have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: Rust ships Online Co-op, Co-op; Abiotic Factor ships Online Co-op, LAN Co-op.