Choose Knights and Merchants
Choose Knights and Merchants if you want the Multi-player side of the pairing. Knights and Merchants launched in 2013.
Knights and Merchants vs Pharaoh + Cleopatra
Knights and Merchants and Pharaoh + Cleopatra both land in Strategy, Simulation 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 Strategy, Simulation on Steam. Knights and Merchants (2013) is 3 years older than Pharaoh + Cleopatra (2016). Pharaoh + Cleopatra scores higher on Steam reviews (91.7% positive) than Knights and Merchants (83.3% 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 Pharaoh + Cleopatra
Choose Pharaoh + Cleopatra if it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 91.7% positive across 1,560 reviews.
Both Knights and Merchants and Pharaoh + Cleopatra sit in Strategy and Simulation on Steam, 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
 Knights and Merchants |  Pharaoh + Cleopatra | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2013 | 2016 |
| Genres | Strategy, Simulation | Strategy, Simulation |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Deck Playable |
| Price | 9.99 USD | 9.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 83.3% positive (857 reviews) | 91.7% positive (1,560 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player | Single-player only |
| Developers | Topware Interactive | Impressions Games |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Simulation on Steam.
- Knights and Merchants (2013) is 3 years older than Pharaoh + Cleopatra (2016).
- Pharaoh + Cleopatra scores higher on Steam reviews (91.7% positive) than Knights and Merchants (83.3% positive).
- Pharaoh + Cleopatra is currently ~0% cheaper on Steam than Knights and Merchants (9.99 USD vs. 9.99 USD).
- Pharaoh + Cleopatra is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; Knights and Merchants has no Deck rating yet.
Knights and Merchants vs Pharaoh + Cleopatra — FAQ
- Which is better, Knights and Merchants or Pharaoh + Cleopatra?
- On Steam reviews Pharaoh + Cleopatra scores higher (91.7% positive) than Knights and Merchants (83.3% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, Pharaoh + Cleopatra is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.
- Should I play Knights and Merchants or Pharaoh + Cleopatra first?
- If you want chronology, Knights and Merchants (2013) came out before Pharaoh + Cleopatra (2016). 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 Knights and Merchants and Pharaoh + Cleopatra similar?
- They overlap on Strategy, Simulation 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 Pharaoh + Cleopatra have multiplayer like Knights and Merchants?
- No. Knights and Merchants supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player), while Pharaoh + Cleopatra is listed as single-player only.