Choose Backyard Soccer '98
Choose Backyard Soccer '98 if it matches what drew you to this matchup. Backyard Soccer '98 launched in 2024.
Backyard Soccer '98 vs Backyard Hockey '02
Backyard Soccer '98 and Backyard Hockey '02 both land in Sports, 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 Sports, Casual on Steam. Backyard Soccer '98 (2024) is 1 year older than Backyard Hockey '02 (2025). Backyard Soccer '98 scores higher on Steam reviews (95.8% positive) than Backyard Hockey '02 (77.4% 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 Backyard Hockey '02
Choose Backyard Hockey '02 if you want a Simulation and Free To Play experience. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. Backyard Hockey '02 launched in 2025.
Both Backyard Soccer '98 and Backyard Hockey '02 sit in Sports 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
 Backyard Soccer '98 |  Backyard Hockey '02 | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2024 | 2025 |
| Genres | Sports, Casual | Sports, Simulation, Free To Play, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Deck Verified |
| Price | 9.99 USD | Free to play |
| Steam reviews | 95.8% positive (192 reviews) | 77.4% positive (84 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Mega Cat Studios | Mega Cat Studios |
Side by side
- Both share Sports, Casual on Steam.
- Backyard Soccer '98 (2024) is 1 year older than Backyard Hockey '02 (2025).
- Backyard Soccer '98 scores higher on Steam reviews (95.8% positive) than Backyard Hockey '02 (77.4% positive).
- Backyard Hockey '02 is free; Backyard Soccer '98 is paid (9.99 USD).
- Steam Deck: Backyard Soccer '98 is Deck Playable, Backyard Hockey '02 is Deck Verified.
Backyard Soccer '98 vs Backyard Hockey '02 — FAQ
- Should I play Backyard Soccer '98 or Backyard Hockey '02 first?
- If you want chronology, Backyard Soccer '98 (2024) came out before Backyard Hockey '02 (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 Backyard Soccer '98 and Backyard Hockey '02 similar?
- They overlap on Sports, 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.
- Is Backyard Hockey '02 free?
- Yes — Backyard Hockey '02 is a free-to-play Steam title. Backyard Soccer '98 is paid (9.99 USD).