Choose Sentinels of the Multiverse
Choose Sentinels of the Multiverse if you want the Steam Timeline side of the pairing. 1,087 Steam reviews back the pick.
Sentinels of the Multiverse vs Ruthless Returns
Sentinels of the Multiverse and Ruthless Returns both land in Strategy, Indie 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 on Steam. Sentinels of the Multiverse (2014) is 12 years older than Ruthless Returns (2026). Ruthless Returns is free; Sentinels of the Multiverse is paid (9.99 USD). 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 Ruthless Returns
Choose Ruthless Returns if you want a Free To Play and Casual game with Online PvP, Shared/Split Screen PvP, and PvP. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. Ruthless Returns launched in 2026.
Both Sentinels of the Multiverse and Ruthless Returns sit in Strategy and Indie on Steam and both list Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen, and Online Co-op, 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
 Sentinels of the Multiverse |  Ruthless Returns | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2014 | 2026 |
| Genres | Strategy, Indie | Strategy, Indie, Free To Play, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | 9.99 USD | Free to play |
| Steam reviews | 93.2% positive (1,087 reviews) | 6 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op |
| Developers | Handelabra Games Inc. | South Harbour Studios |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Indie on Steam.
- Sentinels of the Multiverse (2014) is 12 years older than Ruthless Returns (2026).
- Ruthless Returns is free; Sentinels of the Multiverse is paid (9.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
- Sentinels of the Multiverse is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; Ruthless Returns has no Deck rating yet.
Sentinels of the Multiverse vs Ruthless Returns — FAQ
- Should I play Sentinels of the Multiverse or Ruthless Returns first?
- If you want chronology, Sentinels of the Multiverse (2014) came out before Ruthless Returns (2026). 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 Sentinels of the Multiverse and Ruthless Returns similar?
- They overlap on Strategy, Indie 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.
- Do both Sentinels of the Multiverse and Ruthless Returns have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: Sentinels of the Multiverse ships Online Co-op, Shared/Split Screen Co-op; Ruthless Returns ships Online Co-op, Shared/Split Screen Co-op.
- Is Ruthless Returns free?
- Yes — Ruthless Returns is a free-to-play Steam title. Sentinels of the Multiverse is paid (9.99 USD).
- Does Sentinels of the Multiverse run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Sentinels of the Multiverse is rated Deck Playable by Valve. Ruthless Returns doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.