Choose RimWorld
Choose RimWorld if you want an Indie experience. On Steam, it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. 116,236 Steam reviews back the pick.
RimWorld vs Beyond These Stars
RimWorld and Beyond These Stars 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. RimWorld (2018) is 8 years older than Beyond These Stars (2026). RimWorld is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Beyond These Stars has no Deck rating yet. 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 Beyond These Stars
Choose Beyond These Stars if you want the Stereo Sound, #category_playable_at_your_own_pace, and #category_contrast_controls side of the pairing. On Steam, it's the newer release (2026) and ships with the modern feature baseline. Beyond These Stars launched in 2026.
Both RimWorld and Beyond These Stars sit in Strategy and Simulation on Steam and both list Adjustable Text Size, Camera Comfort, and Custom Volume Controls, 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 |  Beyond These Stars | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2018 | 2026 |
| Genres | Strategy, Indie, Simulation | Strategy, Simulation |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Unrated |
| Price | 34.99 USD | Price unknown |
| Steam reviews | 97.9% positive (116,236 reviews) | — |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Ludeon Studios | Balancing Monkey Games |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Simulation on Steam.
- RimWorld (2018) is 8 years older than Beyond These Stars (2026).
- RimWorld is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Beyond These Stars has no Deck rating yet.
RimWorld vs Beyond These Stars — FAQ
- Should I play RimWorld or Beyond These Stars first?
- If you want chronology, RimWorld (2018) came out before Beyond These Stars (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 RimWorld and Beyond These Stars 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 RimWorld run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — RimWorld is rated Deck Verified by Valve. Beyond These Stars doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.