Choose Ascent - The Space Game
Choose Ascent - The Space Game if it matches what drew you to this matchup. Ascent - The Space Game launched in 2016.
Ascent - The Space Game vs BadLads
Ascent - The Space Game and BadLads both land in Strategy, Indie, Simulation 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, Simulation on Steam. Ascent - The Space Game (2016) is 4 years older than BadLads (2020). BadLads scores higher on Steam reviews (69.7% positive) than Ascent - The Space Game (67.6% 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 BadLads
Choose BadLads if you want an Action, Adventure, and RPG game with Online PvP, Online Co-op, and PvP. On Steam, it's the newer release (2020) and ships with the modern feature baseline. BadLads launched in 2020.
Both Ascent - The Space Game and BadLads sit in Strategy, Indie, and Simulation on Steam and both list Multi-player and MMO, 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
 Ascent - The Space Game |  BadLads | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2016 | 2020 |
| Genres | Strategy, Indie, Simulation, Massively Multiplayer | Action, Strategy, Indie, Adventure, Simulation, Massively Multiplayer, RPG, Casual, Early Access |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Unrated |
| Price | 19.99 USD | Price unknown |
| Steam reviews | 67.6% positive (256 reviews) | 69.7% positive (99 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | Fluffy Kitten Studios | CHEMICAL HEADS STUDIOS |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Indie, Simulation on Steam.
- Ascent - The Space Game (2016) is 4 years older than BadLads (2020).
- BadLads scores higher on Steam reviews (69.7% positive) than Ascent - The Space Game (67.6% positive).
- BadLads has co-op; Ascent - The Space Game does not.
Ascent - The Space Game vs BadLads — FAQ
- Should I play Ascent - The Space Game or BadLads first?
- If you want chronology, Ascent - The Space Game (2016) came out before BadLads (2020). 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 Ascent - The Space Game and BadLads similar?
- They overlap on Strategy, Indie, Simulation 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.