Choose VRChat
Choose VRChat if you want a Sports, Adventure, and Massively Multiplayer game with MMO, Online Co-op, and Co-op. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. 173,195 Steam reviews back the pick.
VRChat vs Ball Scratch Simulator
VRChat and Ball Scratch Simulator both land in Simulation 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 Simulation games on Steam. VRChat (2017) is 9 years older than Ball Scratch Simulator (2026). Ball Scratch Simulator scores higher on Steam reviews (88% positive) than VRChat (71.6% 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 Ball Scratch Simulator
Choose Ball Scratch Simulator if you want the Steam Leaderboards side of the pairing. On Steam, it's the newer release (2026) and ships with the modern feature baseline. Ball Scratch Simulator launched in 2026.
Both VRChat and Ball Scratch Simulator sit in Simulation on Steam and both list Multi-player, Online PvP, and 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 |  Ball Scratch Simulator | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2017 | 2026 |
| Genres | Sports, Adventure, Simulation, Massively Multiplayer, Free To Play, Casual, Early Access | Simulation |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Unrated |
| Price | Free to play | 3.39 USD |
| Steam reviews | 71.6% positive (173,195 reviews) | 88% positive (83 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op | Multi-player |
| Developers | VRChat Inc. | 10ft Games |
Side by side
- Both are Simulation games on Steam.
- VRChat (2017) is 9 years older than Ball Scratch Simulator (2026).
- Ball Scratch Simulator scores higher on Steam reviews (88% positive) than VRChat (71.6% positive).
- VRChat is free; Ball Scratch Simulator is paid (3.39 USD).
- VRChat has co-op; Ball Scratch Simulator does not.
- VRChat is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Ball Scratch Simulator has no Deck rating yet.
VRChat vs Ball Scratch Simulator — FAQ
- Should I play VRChat or Ball Scratch Simulator first?
- If you want chronology, VRChat (2017) came out before Ball Scratch Simulator (2026). 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 Ball Scratch Simulator similar?
- They overlap on Simulation 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.
- Is VRChat free?
- Yes — VRChat is a free-to-play Steam title. Ball Scratch Simulator is paid (3.39 USD).
- Does VRChat run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — VRChat is rated Deck Verified by Valve. Ball Scratch Simulator doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.