Choose Protonwar
Choose Protonwar if you want the Multi-player, Online PvP, and LAN PvP side of the pairing. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. Protonwar launched in 2018.
Protonwar vs Hot steel
Protonwar and Hot steel both land in Action, Indie 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 Action, Indie on Steam. Protonwar (2018) is 2 years older than Hot steel (2020). Protonwar is free; Hot steel is paid (2.99 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 Hot steel
Choose Hot steel if you want an Adventure experience. On Steam, it's a focused single-player run rather than a multiplayer commitment. Hot steel launched in 2020.
Both Protonwar and Hot steel sit in Action and Indie 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
 Protonwar |  Hot steel | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2018 | 2020 |
| Genres | Action, Indie | Action, Indie, Adventure |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Unrated |
| Price | Free to play | 2.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 84.6% positive (91 reviews) | 1 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player | Single-player only |
| Developers | Outer Planet Studios | SteveClay |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie on Steam.
- Protonwar (2018) is 2 years older than Hot steel (2020).
- Protonwar is free; Hot steel is paid (2.99 USD).
Protonwar vs Hot steel — FAQ
- Should I play Protonwar or Hot steel first?
- If you want chronology, Protonwar (2018) came out before Hot steel (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 Protonwar and Hot steel similar?
- They overlap on Action, Indie 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 Hot steel have multiplayer like Protonwar?
- No. Protonwar supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player), while Hot steel is listed as single-player only.
- Is Protonwar free?
- Yes — Protonwar is a free-to-play Steam title. Hot steel is paid (2.99 USD).