Choose VRChat
Choose VRChat if you want a Sports, Simulation, and Free To Play game with MMO. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. 173,195 Steam reviews back the pick.
VRChat vs Helios
VRChat and Helios both land in Adventure, Massively Multiplayer, Casual 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, Massively Multiplayer, Casual on Steam. VRChat (2017) is 4 years older than Helios (2021). VRChat scores higher on Steam reviews (71.6% positive) than Helios (68.5% 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 Helios
Choose Helios if you want an Indie experience. On Steam, it's the newer release (2021) and ships with the modern feature baseline. Helios launched in 2021.
Both VRChat and Helios sit in Adventure, Massively Multiplayer, and Casual on Steam and both list Multi-player, Online PvP, and Online 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
 VRChat |  Helios | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2017 | 2021 |
| Genres | Sports, Adventure, Simulation, Massively Multiplayer, Free To Play, Casual, Early Access | Indie, Adventure, Massively Multiplayer, Casual, Early Access |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Deck Playable |
| Price | Free to play | Price unknown |
| Steam reviews | 71.6% positive (173,195 reviews) | 68.5% positive (54 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | VRChat Inc. | Helm Boy Studios |
Side by side
- Both share Adventure, Massively Multiplayer, Casual on Steam.
- VRChat (2017) is 4 years older than Helios (2021).
- VRChat scores higher on Steam reviews (71.6% positive) than Helios (68.5% positive).
- VRChat is free; Helios is paid (Price unknown).
- Both support cooperative play.
- Steam Deck: VRChat is Deck Verified, Helios is Deck Playable.
VRChat vs Helios — FAQ
- Should I play VRChat or Helios first?
- If you want chronology, VRChat (2017) came out before Helios (2021). 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 Helios similar?
- They overlap on Adventure, Massively Multiplayer, Casual 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 Helios have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: VRChat ships Online Co-op, Co-op; Helios ships Online Co-op, Co-op.
- Is VRChat free?
- Yes — VRChat is a free-to-play Steam title. Helios is paid (Price unknown).