Choose VRChat
Choose VRChat if you want a Sports and Free To Play game with Tracked Controller Support and VR Supported. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. 173,195 Steam reviews back the pick.
VRChat vs Zero-based World-从零开始
VRChat and Zero-based World-从零开始 both land in Adventure, Simulation, Massively Multiplayer 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 Adventure, Simulation, Massively Multiplayer on Steam. VRChat (2017) is 3 years older than Zero-based World-从零开始 (2020). VRChat is free; Zero-based World-从零开始 is paid (18.99 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 Zero-based World-从零开始
Choose Zero-based World-从零开始 if you want an Action and Indie experience. On Steam, it's the newer release (2020) and ships with the modern feature baseline. Zero-based World-从零开始 launched in 2020.
Both VRChat and Zero-based World-从零开始 sit in Adventure, Simulation, and Massively Multiplayer on Steam and both list Multi-player, MMO, and Online PvP, 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
 VRChat |  Zero-based World-从零开始 | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2017 | 2020 |
| Genres | Sports, Adventure, Simulation, Massively Multiplayer, Free To Play, Casual, Early Access | Action, Indie, Adventure, Simulation, Massively Multiplayer, Casual, Early Access |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Unrated |
| Price | Free to play | 18.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 71.6% positive (173,195 reviews) | 7 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | VRChat Inc. | zerogame |
Side by side
- Both share Adventure, Simulation, Massively Multiplayer on Steam.
- VRChat (2017) is 3 years older than Zero-based World-从零开始 (2020).
- VRChat is free; Zero-based World-从零开始 is paid (18.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
- VRChat is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Zero-based World-从零开始 has no Deck rating yet.
VRChat vs Zero-based World-从零开始 — FAQ
- Should I play VRChat or Zero-based World-从零开始 first?
- If you want chronology, VRChat (2017) came out before Zero-based World-从零开始 (2020). 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 VRChat and Zero-based World-从零开始 similar?
- They overlap on Adventure, Simulation, Massively Multiplayer 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 VRChat and Zero-based World-从零开始 have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: VRChat ships Online Co-op, Co-op; Zero-based World-从零开始 ships Online Co-op, Co-op.
- Is VRChat free?
- Yes — VRChat is a free-to-play Steam title. Zero-based World-从零开始 is paid (18.99 USD).
- Does VRChat run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — VRChat is rated Deck Verified by Valve. Zero-based World-从零开始 doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.