Choose Duelyst
Choose Duelyst if it matches what drew you to this matchup. 3,201 Steam reviews back the pick.
Duelyst vs Madhearts
Duelyst and Madhearts both land in Strategy, Indie, Free To Play 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, Free To Play on Steam. Duelyst (2016) is 10 years older than Madhearts (2026). Madhearts scores higher on Steam reviews (100% positive) than Duelyst (81% 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 Madhearts
Choose Madhearts if you want an Action and Casual game with Custom Volume Controls, Playable without Timed Input, and Mouse Only Option. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. Madhearts launched in 2026.
Both Duelyst and Madhearts sit in Strategy, Indie, and Free To Play on Steam and both list Multi-player, Online PvP, and PvP, 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
 Duelyst |  Madhearts | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2016 | 2026 |
| Genres | Strategy, Indie, Free To Play | Action, Strategy, Indie, Free To Play, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Unrated |
| Price | Price unknown | Free to play |
| Steam reviews | 81% positive (3,201 reviews) | 100% positive (15 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer | Multi-player |
| Developers | Counterplay Games Inc. | Vincae Entretenimento |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Indie, Free To Play on Steam.
- Duelyst (2016) is 10 years older than Madhearts (2026).
- Madhearts scores higher on Steam reviews (100% positive) than Duelyst (81% positive).
- Madhearts is free; Duelyst is paid (Price unknown).
Duelyst vs Madhearts — FAQ
- Should I play Duelyst or Madhearts first?
- If you want chronology, Duelyst (2016) came out before Madhearts (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 Duelyst and Madhearts similar?
- They overlap on Strategy, Indie, Free To Play 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.
- Is Madhearts free?
- Yes — Madhearts is a free-to-play Steam title. Duelyst is paid (Price unknown).