Choose Squad
Choose Squad if you want a Strategy, Indie, and Massively Multiplayer game with Online PvP, PvP, and Valve Anti-Cheat enabled. 82,330 Steam reviews back the pick.
Squad vs Operation Athena
Squad and Operation Athena 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. Squad (2020) is 4 years older than Operation Athena (2024). Squad scores higher on Steam reviews (84.1% positive) than Operation Athena (73.3% 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 Operation Athena
Choose Operation Athena if you want a Simulation and Early Access experience. On Steam, it's currently about 80% cheaper on the Steam Store. Operation Athena launched in 2024.
Both Squad and Operation Athena sit in Action on Steam and both list Multi-player, Online Co-op, and Co-op, 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
 Squad |  Operation Athena | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2020 | 2024 |
| Genres | Action, Strategy, Indie, Massively Multiplayer | Action, Simulation, Early Access |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | 49.99 USD | 9.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 84.1% positive (82,330 reviews) | 73.3% positive (30 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | Offworld | MISSING GAME STUDIO, LTD., GRENARC LLC |
Side by side
- Both are Action games on Steam.
- Squad (2020) is 4 years older than Operation Athena (2024).
- Squad scores higher on Steam reviews (84.1% positive) than Operation Athena (73.3% positive).
- Operation Athena is currently ~80% cheaper on Steam than Squad (9.99 USD vs. 49.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
- Squad is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; Operation Athena has no Deck rating yet.
Squad vs Operation Athena — FAQ
- Should I play Squad or Operation Athena first?
- If you want chronology, Squad (2020) came out before Operation Athena (2024). 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 Squad and Operation Athena 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.
- Do both Squad and Operation Athena have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: Squad ships Online Co-op, Co-op; Operation Athena ships Online Co-op, Co-op.
- Does Squad run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Squad is rated Deck Playable by Valve. Operation Athena doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.