Choose RimWorld
Choose RimWorld if you want the Camera Comfort side of the pairing. On Steam, it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. 116,236 Steam reviews back the pick.
RimWorld vs Edge Islands
RimWorld and Edge Islands both land in Strategy, Indie, 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, Indie, Simulation on Steam. RimWorld (2018) is 7 years older than Edge Islands (2025). RimWorld scores higher on Steam reviews (97.9% positive) than Edge Islands (81.6% 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 Edge Islands
Choose Edge Islands if you want a RPG and Early Access game with Stereo Sound. On Steam, it's currently about 64% cheaper on the Steam Store. Edge Islands launched in 2025.
Both RimWorld and Edge Islands sit in Strategy, Indie, and Simulation on Steam and both list Adjustable Text Size, Custom Volume Controls, and Playable without Timed Input, 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
 RimWorld |  Edge Islands | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2018 | 2025 |
| Genres | Strategy, Indie, Simulation | Strategy, Indie, Simulation, RPG, Early Access |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Deck Playable |
| Price | 34.99 USD | 12.59 USD |
| Steam reviews | 97.9% positive (116,236 reviews) | 81.6% positive (49 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Ludeon Studios | LS Games |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Indie, Simulation on Steam.
- RimWorld (2018) is 7 years older than Edge Islands (2025).
- RimWorld scores higher on Steam reviews (97.9% positive) than Edge Islands (81.6% positive).
- Edge Islands is currently ~64% cheaper on Steam than RimWorld (12.59 USD vs. 34.99 USD).
- Steam Deck: RimWorld is Deck Verified, Edge Islands is Deck Playable.
RimWorld vs Edge Islands — FAQ
- Should I play RimWorld or Edge Islands first?
- If you want chronology, RimWorld (2018) came out before Edge Islands (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 RimWorld and Edge Islands similar?
- They overlap on Strategy, Indie, 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.