IMHO.

Retro Commander vs Mars Quest

Retro Commander and Mars Quest both land in 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 are Indie games on Steam. Mars Quest (2021) is 2 years older than Retro Commander (2023). Retro Commander is free; Mars Quest is paid (1.99 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 Retro Commander

Choose Retro Commander if you want a Strategy and Free To Play game with Custom Volume Controls, Playable without Timed Input, and Mouse Only Option. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. Retro Commander launched in 2023.

Choose Mars Quest

Choose Mars Quest if you want an Action and Casual experience. Mars Quest launched in 2021.

Both Retro Commander and Mars Quest sit in Indie on Steam and both list Multi-player, Online PvP, 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

Retro Commander vs Mars Quest — Steam metadata comparison
Retro Commander — Steam game coverRetro CommanderMars Quest — Steam game coverMars Quest
Released20232021
GenresStrategy, Indie, Free To PlayAction, Indie, Casual
PlatformsWindows, macOS, LinuxWindows, macOS
Steam DeckDeck PlayableUnrated
PriceFree to play1.99 USD
Steam reviews75.7% positive (210 reviews)2 reviews
MultiplayerMulti-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-opMulti-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op
DevelopersNoble Master LLCJRC

Side by side

Retro Commander vs Mars Quest — FAQ

Should I play Retro Commander or Mars Quest first?
If you want chronology, Mars Quest (2021) came out before Retro Commander (2023). 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 Retro Commander and Mars Quest similar?
They overlap on 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 Retro Commander and Mars Quest have co-op?
Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: Retro Commander ships Online Co-op, LAN Co-op; Mars Quest ships Online Co-op, LAN Co-op.
Is Retro Commander free?
Yes — Retro Commander is a free-to-play Steam title. Mars Quest is paid (1.99 USD).
Does Retro Commander run on Steam Deck?
Yes — Retro Commander is rated Deck Playable by Valve. Mars Quest doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.