Choose EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 The Shadow of New Despair
Choose EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 The Shadow of New Despair if you want the Shared/Split Screen side of the pairing. 5,855 Steam reviews back the pick.
EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 The Shadow of New Despair vs Attack on Steel
EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 The Shadow of New Despair and Attack on Steel 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. EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 The Shadow of New Despair (2016) is 9 years older than Attack on Steel (2025). Attack on Steel is currently ~35% cheaper on Steam than EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 The Shadow of New Despair (12.99 USD vs. 19.99 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 Attack on Steel
Choose Attack on Steel if you want a Strategy and Racing game with Online PvP, Online Co-op, and PvP. On Steam, it's currently about 35% cheaper on the Steam Store. Attack on Steel launched in 2025.
Both EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 The Shadow of New Despair and Attack on Steel sit in Action on Steam and both list Multi-player 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
 EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 The Shadow of New Despair |  Attack on Steel | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2016 | 2025 |
| Genres | Action | Action, Strategy, Racing |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | 19.99 USD | 12.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 96.4% positive (5,855 reviews) | 2 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Co-op | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | SANDLOT | Filet Studio |
Side by side
- Both are Action games on Steam.
- EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 The Shadow of New Despair (2016) is 9 years older than Attack on Steel (2025).
- Attack on Steel is currently ~35% cheaper on Steam than EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 The Shadow of New Despair (12.99 USD vs. 19.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
- EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 The Shadow of New Despair is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; Attack on Steel has no Deck rating yet.
EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 The Shadow of New Despair vs Attack on Steel — FAQ
- Should I play EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 The Shadow of New Despair or Attack on Steel first?
- If you want chronology, EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 The Shadow of New Despair (2016) came out before Attack on Steel (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 EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 The Shadow of New Despair and Attack on Steel 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 EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 The Shadow of New Despair and Attack on Steel have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 The Shadow of New Despair ships Co-op; Attack on Steel ships Online Co-op, Co-op.
- Does EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 The Shadow of New Despair run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 The Shadow of New Despair is rated Deck Playable by Valve. Attack on Steel doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.