Choose VRChat
Choose VRChat if you want a Sports, Adventure, and Simulation game with Multi-player, MMO, and Online PvP. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. 173,195 Steam reviews back the pick.
VRChat vs SHOWMAKER
VRChat and SHOWMAKER both land in Casual, Early Access 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 Casual, Early Access on Steam. VRChat (2017) is 1 year older than SHOWMAKER (2018). VRChat is free; SHOWMAKER is paid (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 SHOWMAKER
Choose SHOWMAKER if it's a focused single-player run rather than a multiplayer commitment. SHOWMAKER launched in 2018.
Both VRChat and SHOWMAKER sit in Casual and Early Access on Steam, 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 |  SHOWMAKER | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2017 | 2018 |
| Genres | Sports, Adventure, Simulation, Massively Multiplayer, Free To Play, Casual, Early Access | Casual, Early Access |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Unrated |
| Price | Free to play | 14.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 71.6% positive (173,195 reviews) | 7 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op | Single-player only |
| Developers | VRChat Inc. | Preapp Partners |
Side by side
- Both share Casual, Early Access on Steam.
- VRChat (2017) is 1 year older than SHOWMAKER (2018).
- VRChat is free; SHOWMAKER is paid (14.99 USD).
- VRChat has co-op; SHOWMAKER does not.
- VRChat is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; SHOWMAKER has no Deck rating yet.
VRChat vs SHOWMAKER — FAQ
- Should I play VRChat or SHOWMAKER first?
- If you want chronology, VRChat (2017) came out before SHOWMAKER (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 VRChat and SHOWMAKER similar?
- They overlap on Casual, Early Access 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 SHOWMAKER have multiplayer like VRChat?
- No. VRChat supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op), while SHOWMAKER is listed as single-player only.
- Is VRChat free?
- Yes — VRChat is a free-to-play Steam title. SHOWMAKER is paid (14.99 USD).
- Does VRChat run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — VRChat is rated Deck Verified by Valve. SHOWMAKER doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.