Choose METAL SLUG DEFENSE
Choose METAL SLUG DEFENSE if you want a Free To Play experience. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. METAL SLUG DEFENSE launched in 2015.
METAL SLUG DEFENSE vs ARCADE
METAL SLUG DEFENSE and ARCADE both land in Action 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 Action games on Steam. METAL SLUG DEFENSE (2015) is 5 years older than ARCADE (2020). ARCADE scores higher on Steam reviews (78.9% positive) than METAL SLUG DEFENSE (49.5% 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 ARCADE
Choose ARCADE if you want an Adventure, Massively Multiplayer, and Casual game with Shared/Split Screen, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, and Co-op. On Steam, it's the newer release (2020) and ships with the modern feature baseline. ARCADE launched in 2020.
Both METAL SLUG DEFENSE and ARCADE sit in Action on Steam and both list Multi-player and Steam Leaderboards, 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
 METAL SLUG DEFENSE |  ARCADE | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2015 | 2020 |
| Genres | Action, Free To Play | Action, Adventure, Massively Multiplayer, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Deck Verified |
| Price | Free to play | 3.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 49.5% positive (740 reviews) | 78.9% positive (19 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player | Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | SNK CORPORATION | EYEFRONT |
Side by side
- Both are Action games on Steam.
- METAL SLUG DEFENSE (2015) is 5 years older than ARCADE (2020).
- ARCADE scores higher on Steam reviews (78.9% positive) than METAL SLUG DEFENSE (49.5% positive).
- METAL SLUG DEFENSE is free; ARCADE is paid (3.99 USD).
- ARCADE has co-op; METAL SLUG DEFENSE does not.
- ARCADE is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; METAL SLUG DEFENSE has no Deck rating yet.
METAL SLUG DEFENSE vs ARCADE — FAQ
- Should I play METAL SLUG DEFENSE or ARCADE first?
- If you want chronology, METAL SLUG DEFENSE (2015) came out before ARCADE (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 METAL SLUG DEFENSE and ARCADE similar?
- They overlap on Action 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.
- Is METAL SLUG DEFENSE free?
- Yes — METAL SLUG DEFENSE is a free-to-play Steam title. ARCADE is paid (3.99 USD).