IMHO.

X4: Foundations vs D.R.I.F.T.

X4: Foundations and D.R.I.F.T. both land in 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 are Simulation games on Steam. X4: Foundations (2018) is 7 years older than D.R.I.F.T. (2025). D.R.I.F.T. is currently ~4% cheaper on Steam than X4: Foundations (11.99 USD vs. 12.49 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 X4: Foundations

Choose X4: Foundations if you want an Action and Strategy game with Adjustable Text Size, Camera Comfort, and Stereo Sound. On Steam, it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. 13,038 Steam reviews back the pick.

Choose D.R.I.F.T.

Choose D.R.I.F.T. if you want an Indie and Adventure experience. On Steam, it's the newer release (2025) and ships with the modern feature baseline. D.R.I.F.T. launched in 2025.

Both X4: Foundations and D.R.I.F.T. sit in Simulation on Steam and both list Color Alternatives, Custom Volume Controls, and Playable without Timed Input, 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

X4: Foundations vs D.R.I.F.T. — Steam metadata comparison
X4: Foundations — Steam game coverX4: FoundationsD.R.I.F.T. — Steam game coverD.R.I.F.T.
Released20182025
GenresAction, Strategy, SimulationIndie, Adventure, Simulation
PlatformsWindows, LinuxWindows
Steam DeckDeck VerifiedUnrated
Price12.49 USD11.99 USD
Steam reviews78.6% positive (13,038 reviews)3 reviews
MultiplayerSingle-player onlySingle-player only
DevelopersEgosoftResilientLogic Games

Side by side

X4: Foundations vs D.R.I.F.T. — FAQ

Should I play X4: Foundations or D.R.I.F.T. first?
If you want chronology, X4: Foundations (2018) came out before D.R.I.F.T. (2025). 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 X4: Foundations and D.R.I.F.T. similar?
They overlap on 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.
Does X4: Foundations run on Steam Deck?
Yes — X4: Foundations is rated Deck Verified by Valve. D.R.I.F.T. doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.
X4: Foundations vs D.R.I.F.T. — Verdict (2026) · imho.run