Choose CRYPTARK
Choose CRYPTARK if you want a Strategy and Adventure game with Multi-player, Steam Leaderboards, and Shared/Split Screen PvP. On Steam, it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. CRYPTARK launched in 2017.
CRYPTARK vs Starward Rogue
CRYPTARK and Starward Rogue both land in Action, 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 Action, Indie on Steam. Starward Rogue (2016) is 1 year older than CRYPTARK (2017). Starward Rogue scores higher on Steam reviews (90.7% positive) than CRYPTARK (83% 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 Starward Rogue
Choose Starward Rogue if you want a RPG experience. On Steam, it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 90.7% positive across 248 reviews.
Both CRYPTARK and Starward Rogue sit in Action and Indie 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
 CRYPTARK |  Starward Rogue | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2017 | 2016 |
| Genres | Action, Strategy, Indie, Adventure | Action, Indie, RPG |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Deck Playable |
| Price | 14.99 USD | 11.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 83% positive (729 reviews) | 90.7% positive (248 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op | Single-player only |
| Developers | Alientrap | Arcen Games |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie on Steam.
- Starward Rogue (2016) is 1 year older than CRYPTARK (2017).
- Starward Rogue scores higher on Steam reviews (90.7% positive) than CRYPTARK (83% positive).
- Starward Rogue is currently ~20% cheaper on Steam than CRYPTARK (11.99 USD vs. 14.99 USD).
- CRYPTARK has co-op; Starward Rogue does not.
- Steam Deck: CRYPTARK is Deck Verified, Starward Rogue is Deck Playable.
CRYPTARK vs Starward Rogue — FAQ
- Which is better, CRYPTARK or Starward Rogue?
- On Steam reviews Starward Rogue scores higher (90.7% positive) than CRYPTARK (83% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, Starward Rogue is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.
- Should I play CRYPTARK or Starward Rogue first?
- If you want chronology, Starward Rogue (2016) came out before CRYPTARK (2017). 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 CRYPTARK and Starward Rogue similar?
- They overlap on Action, 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.
- Does Starward Rogue have multiplayer like CRYPTARK?
- No. CRYPTARK supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op), while Starward Rogue is listed as single-player only.