Choose Darknet
Choose Darknet if it's a focused single-player run rather than a multiplayer commitment. Darknet launched in 2017.
Darknet vs Astraeus
Darknet and Astraeus both land in Strategy, Indie 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 on Steam. Darknet (2017) is 1 year older than Astraeus (2018). Astraeus is currently ~0% cheaper on Steam than Darknet (14.99 USD vs. 14.99 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 Astraeus
Choose Astraeus if you want the Multi-player, Online PvP, and PvP side of the pairing. Astraeus launched in 2018.
Both Darknet and Astraeus sit in Strategy and Indie on Steam and both list Tracked Controller Support and VR Supported, 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
 Darknet |  Astraeus | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2017 | 2018 |
| Genres | Strategy, Indie | Strategy, Indie |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | 14.99 USD | 14.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 90% positive (60 reviews) | 7 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer |
| Developers | E McNeill | E McNeill |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Indie on Steam.
- Darknet (2017) is 1 year older than Astraeus (2018).
- Astraeus is currently ~0% cheaper on Steam than Darknet (14.99 USD vs. 14.99 USD).
- Darknet is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; Astraeus has no Deck rating yet.
Darknet vs Astraeus — FAQ
- Should I play Darknet or Astraeus first?
- If you want chronology, Darknet (2017) came out before Astraeus (2018). 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 Darknet and Astraeus similar?
- They overlap on Strategy, Indie 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 Darknet have multiplayer like Astraeus?
- No. Astraeus supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer), while Darknet is listed as single-player only.
- Does Darknet run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Darknet is rated Deck Playable by Valve. Astraeus doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.