Choose Sunrider Academy
Choose Sunrider Academy if you want an Indie experience. On Steam, it's currently about 50% cheaper on the Steam Store. Sunrider Academy launched in 2015.
Sunrider Academy vs 9-nine-:Episode 1
Sunrider Academy and 9-nine-:Episode 1 both land in 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 Simulation, Casual on Steam. Sunrider Academy (2015) is 4 years older than 9-nine-:Episode 1 (2019). 9-nine-:Episode 1 scores higher on Steam reviews (93.5% positive) than Sunrider Academy (83.2% 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 9-nine-:Episode 1
Choose 9-nine-:Episode 1 if it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 93.5% positive across 216 reviews.
Both Sunrider Academy and 9-nine-:Episode 1 sit in 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
 Sunrider Academy |  9-nine-:Episode 1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2015 | 2019 |
| Genres | Indie, Simulation, Casual | Simulation, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Deck Playable |
| Price | 9.99 USD | 19.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 83.2% positive (612 reviews) | 93.5% positive (216 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Love in Space | PALETTE |
Side by side
- Both share Simulation, Casual on Steam.
- Sunrider Academy (2015) is 4 years older than 9-nine-:Episode 1 (2019).
- 9-nine-:Episode 1 scores higher on Steam reviews (93.5% positive) than Sunrider Academy (83.2% positive).
- Sunrider Academy is currently ~50% cheaper on Steam than 9-nine-:Episode 1 (9.99 USD vs. 19.99 USD).
- Both are Deck Playable.
Sunrider Academy vs 9-nine-:Episode 1 — FAQ
- Which is better, Sunrider Academy or 9-nine-:Episode 1?
- On Steam reviews 9-nine-:Episode 1 scores higher (93.5% positive) than Sunrider Academy (83.2% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, 9-nine-:Episode 1 is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.
- Should I play Sunrider Academy or 9-nine-:Episode 1 first?
- If you want chronology, Sunrider Academy (2015) came out before 9-nine-:Episode 1 (2019). 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 Sunrider Academy and 9-nine-:Episode 1 similar?
- They overlap on 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.