Choose RimWorld
Choose RimWorld if you want the Adjustable Text Size side of the pairing. On Steam, it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 97.9% positive across 116,236 reviews.
RimWorld vs Hearthlands
RimWorld and Hearthlands 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. Hearthlands (2017) is 1 year older than RimWorld (2018). RimWorld scores higher on Steam reviews (97.9% positive) than Hearthlands (80% 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 Hearthlands
Choose Hearthlands if you want the Stereo Sound side of the pairing. On Steam, it's currently about 54% cheaper on the Steam Store. Hearthlands launched in 2017.
Both RimWorld and Hearthlands sit in Strategy, Indie, and Simulation on Steam and both list Camera Comfort, 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 |  Hearthlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2018 | 2017 |
| Genres | Strategy, Indie, Simulation | Strategy, Indie, Simulation |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Deck Playable |
| Price | 34.99 USD | 15.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 97.9% positive (116,236 reviews) | 80% positive (210 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Ludeon Studios | Four White Cats |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Indie, Simulation on Steam.
- Hearthlands (2017) is 1 year older than RimWorld (2018).
- RimWorld scores higher on Steam reviews (97.9% positive) than Hearthlands (80% positive).
- Hearthlands is currently ~54% cheaper on Steam than RimWorld (15.99 USD vs. 34.99 USD).
- Steam Deck: RimWorld is Deck Verified, Hearthlands is Deck Playable.
RimWorld vs Hearthlands — FAQ
- Which is better, RimWorld or Hearthlands?
- On Steam reviews RimWorld scores higher (97.9% positive) than Hearthlands (80% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, RimWorld is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.
- Should I play RimWorld or Hearthlands first?
- If you want chronology, Hearthlands (2017) came out before RimWorld (2018). 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 Hearthlands 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.