Choose Ensign-1
Choose Ensign-1 if it's a focused single-player run rather than a multiplayer commitment. Ensign-1 launched in 2018.
Ensign-1 vs BadLads
Ensign-1 and BadLads both land in Action, 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 Action, Indie, Simulation on Steam. Ensign-1 (2018) is 2 years older than BadLads (2020). BadLads has co-op; Ensign-1 does not. 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 BadLads
Choose BadLads if you want a Strategy, Adventure, and Massively Multiplayer game with Multi-player, MMO, and Online PvP. On Steam, it has co-op, so you can bring a friend. BadLads launched in 2020.
Both Ensign-1 and BadLads sit in Action, Indie, and Simulation 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
 Ensign-1 |  BadLads | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2018 | 2020 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Simulation | Action, Strategy, Indie, Adventure, Simulation, Massively Multiplayer, RPG, Casual, Early Access |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Unrated |
| Price | 1.99 USD | Price unknown |
| Steam reviews | 2 reviews | 69.7% positive (99 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | Only Human Studios | CHEMICAL HEADS STUDIOS |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie, Simulation on Steam.
- Ensign-1 (2018) is 2 years older than BadLads (2020).
- BadLads has co-op; Ensign-1 does not.
Ensign-1 vs BadLads — FAQ
- Should I play Ensign-1 or BadLads first?
- If you want chronology, Ensign-1 (2018) came out before BadLads (2020). 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 Ensign-1 and BadLads similar?
- They overlap on Action, 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.
- Does Ensign-1 have multiplayer like BadLads?
- No. BadLads supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op), while Ensign-1 is listed as single-player only.