Choose Stargunner
Choose Stargunner if you want a Free To Play experience. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. Stargunner launched in 2014.
Stargunner vs Vektor Z
Stargunner and Vektor Z 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. Stargunner (2014) is 8 years older than Vektor Z (2022). Stargunner is free; Vektor Z is paid (6.99 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 Vektor Z
Choose Vektor Z if you want an Indie game with Steam Leaderboards. On Steam, it's the newer release (2022) and ships with the modern feature baseline. Vektor Z launched in 2022.
Both Stargunner and Vektor Z sit in Action 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
 Stargunner |  Vektor Z | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2014 | 2022 |
| Genres | Action, Free To Play | Action, Indie |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Unrated |
| Price | Free to play | 6.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 77.8% positive (81 reviews) | 2 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Apogee Entertainment | ZaxtorGameS |
Side by side
- Both are Action games on Steam.
- Stargunner (2014) is 8 years older than Vektor Z (2022).
- Stargunner is free; Vektor Z is paid (6.99 USD).
Stargunner vs Vektor Z — FAQ
- Should I play Stargunner or Vektor Z first?
- If you want chronology, Stargunner (2014) came out before Vektor Z (2022). 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 Stargunner and Vektor Z 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 Stargunner free?
- Yes — Stargunner is a free-to-play Steam title. Vektor Z is paid (6.99 USD).