Choose SpaceEngine
Choose SpaceEngine if you want an Early Access game with Tracked Controller Support. 8,862 Steam reviews back the pick.
SpaceEngine vs Black Hole Simulator
SpaceEngine and Black Hole Simulator both land in Indie, Simulation, Casual 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 Indie, Simulation, Casual on Steam. SpaceEngine (2019) is 2 years older than Black Hole Simulator (2021). SpaceEngine scores higher on Steam reviews (96% positive) than Black Hole Simulator (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 Black Hole Simulator
Choose Black Hole Simulator if you want an Adventure experience. On Steam, it's currently about 93% cheaper on the Steam Store. Black Hole Simulator launched in 2021.
Both SpaceEngine and Black Hole Simulator sit in Indie, Simulation, and Casual 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
 SpaceEngine |  Black Hole Simulator | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2019 | 2021 |
| Genres | Indie, Simulation, Casual, Early Access | Indie, Adventure, Simulation, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Unsupported | Unrated |
| Price | 29.99 USD | 1.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 96% positive (8,862 reviews) | 80% positive (70 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Cosmographic Software | PanGuoJun |
Side by side
- Both share Indie, Simulation, Casual on Steam.
- SpaceEngine (2019) is 2 years older than Black Hole Simulator (2021).
- SpaceEngine scores higher on Steam reviews (96% positive) than Black Hole Simulator (80% positive).
- Black Hole Simulator is currently ~93% cheaper on Steam than SpaceEngine (1.99 USD vs. 29.99 USD).
- SpaceEngine is Deck Unsupported on Steam Deck; Black Hole Simulator has no Deck rating yet.
SpaceEngine vs Black Hole Simulator — FAQ
- Should I play SpaceEngine or Black Hole Simulator first?
- If you want chronology, SpaceEngine (2019) came out before Black Hole Simulator (2021). 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 SpaceEngine and Black Hole Simulator similar?
- They overlap on Indie, Simulation, Casual 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.