Choose Rust
Choose Rust if you want a Massively Multiplayer game with MMO, Online PvP, and PvP. 519,643 Steam reviews back the pick.
Rust vs Valheim
Rust and Valheim 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 Valheim (2026). Valheim scores higher on Steam reviews (93.6% 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 Valheim
Choose Valheim if you want the DualShock Controller Support, DualSense Controller Support, and Save Anytime side of the pairing. On Steam, it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 93.6% positive across 558,366 reviews.
Both Rust and Valheim sit in Action, Indie, and Adventure on Steam and both list Multi-player, Online Co-op, and Camera Comfort, 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 |  Valheim | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2018 | 2026 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Adventure, Massively Multiplayer, RPG | Action, Indie, Adventure, RPG |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Deck Unsupported | Deck Verified |
| Price | 39.99 USD | 26.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 86.7% positive (519,643 reviews) | 93.6% positive (558,366 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | Facepunch Studios | Iron Gate AB |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie, Adventure on Steam.
- Rust (2018) is 8 years older than Valheim (2026).
- Valheim scores higher on Steam reviews (93.6% positive) than Rust (86.7% positive).
- Valheim is currently ~33% cheaper on Steam than Rust (26.99 USD vs. 39.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
- Steam Deck: Rust is Deck Unsupported, Valheim is Deck Verified.
Rust vs Valheim — FAQ
- Which is better, Rust or Valheim?
- On Steam reviews Valheim scores higher (93.6% positive) than Rust (86.7% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, Valheim 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 Valheim first?
- If you want chronology, Rust (2018) came out before Valheim (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 Valheim 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 Valheim have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: Rust ships Online Co-op, Co-op; Valheim ships Online Co-op, Co-op.