Which is better, SteamWorld Heist or Highlands?

On Steam reviews SteamWorld Heist scores higher (93.9% positive) than Highlands (73.6% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, SteamWorld Heist is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.

Should I play SteamWorld Heist or Highlands first?

If you want chronology, Highlands (2015) came out before SteamWorld Heist (2016). 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 SteamWorld Heist and Highlands similar?

They overlap on Strategy, RPG 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 SteamWorld Heist run on Steam Deck?

Yes — SteamWorld Heist is rated Deck Verified by Valve. Highlands doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.

SteamWorld Heist vs Highlands

SteamWorld Heist and Highlands both land in Strategy, RPG 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, RPG on Steam. Highlands (2015) is 1 year older than SteamWorld Heist (2016). SteamWorld Heist scores higher on Steam reviews (93.9% positive) than Highlands (73.6% positive). No login or purchase needed — scroll for the full table, the verdict FAQ, and links to ranked similar games for both titles.

SteamWorld Heist vs Highlands — Steam metadata comparison
	SteamWorld Heist	Highlands
Released	2016	2015
Genres	Strategy, RPG	Strategy, Indie, RPG
Platforms	Windows, macOS, Linux	Windows
Steam Deck	Deck Verified	Unrated
Price	14.99 USD	4.99 USD
Steam reviews	93.9% positive (2,346 reviews)	73.6% positive (129 reviews)
Multiplayer	Single-player only	Single-player only
Developers	Image & Form Games	Burrito Studio

Side by side

Both share Strategy, RPG on Steam.
Highlands (2015) is 1 year older than SteamWorld Heist (2016).
SteamWorld Heist scores higher on Steam reviews (93.9% positive) than Highlands (73.6% positive).
Highlands is currently ~67% cheaper on Steam than SteamWorld Heist (4.99 USD vs. 14.99 USD).
SteamWorld Heist is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Highlands has no Deck rating yet.

SteamWorld Heist vs Highlands — FAQ

Which is better, SteamWorld Heist or Highlands?: On Steam reviews SteamWorld Heist scores higher (93.9% positive) than Highlands (73.6% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, SteamWorld Heist is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.
Should I play SteamWorld Heist or Highlands first?: If you want chronology, Highlands (2015) came out before SteamWorld Heist (2016). 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 SteamWorld Heist and Highlands similar?: They overlap on Strategy, RPG 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 SteamWorld Heist run on Steam Deck?: Yes — SteamWorld Heist is rated Deck Verified by Valve. Highlands doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.

Side-by-side comparison

Side by side

SteamWorld Heist vs Highlands — FAQ