Choose Imagine Earth
Choose Imagine Earth if you want a Simulation game with Steam Leaderboards. On Steam, it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. Imagine Earth launched in 2021.
Imagine Earth vs Idlenetics
Imagine Earth and Idlenetics both land in Strategy, Indie, Casual 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, Indie, Casual on Steam. Imagine Earth (2021) is 2 years older than Idlenetics (2023). Idlenetics is currently ~84% cheaper on Steam than Imagine Earth (3.99 USD vs. 24.99 USD). 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 Idlenetics
Choose Idlenetics if it's currently about 84% cheaper on the Steam Store. Idlenetics launched in 2023.
Both Imagine Earth and Idlenetics sit in Strategy, Indie, and Casual 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
 Imagine Earth |  Idlenetics | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2021 | 2023 |
| Genres | Strategy, Indie, Simulation, Casual | Strategy, Indie, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Unrated |
| Price | 24.99 USD | 3.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 76.9% positive (484 reviews) | 8 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Serious Bros. | ZorKI |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Indie, Casual on Steam.
- Imagine Earth (2021) is 2 years older than Idlenetics (2023).
- Idlenetics is currently ~84% cheaper on Steam than Imagine Earth (3.99 USD vs. 24.99 USD).
- Imagine Earth is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Idlenetics has no Deck rating yet.
Imagine Earth vs Idlenetics — FAQ
- Should I play Imagine Earth or Idlenetics first?
- If you want chronology, Imagine Earth (2021) came out before Idlenetics (2023). 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 Imagine Earth and Idlenetics similar?
- They overlap on Strategy, Indie, Casual 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 Imagine Earth run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Imagine Earth is rated Deck Verified by Valve. Idlenetics doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.