Choose Protonwar
Choose Protonwar if you want the 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 Empower
Protonwar and Empower 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 3 years older than Empower (2021). Protonwar is free; Empower is paid (17.99 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 Empower
Choose Empower if you want a Simulation and Early Access game with Online Co-op and Co-op. On Steam, it's the newer release (2021) and ships with the modern feature baseline. Empower launched in 2021.
Both Protonwar and Empower sit in Action and Indie 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
 Protonwar |  Empower | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2018 | 2021 |
| Genres | Action, Indie | Action, Indie, Simulation, Early Access |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Unrated |
| Price | Free to play | 17.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 84.6% positive (91 reviews) | 2 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | Outer Planet Studios | DespoDev |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie on Steam.
- Protonwar (2018) is 3 years older than Empower (2021).
- Protonwar is free; Empower is paid (17.99 USD).
- Empower has co-op; Protonwar does not.
Protonwar vs Empower — FAQ
- Should I play Protonwar or Empower first?
- If you want chronology, Protonwar (2018) came out before Empower (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 Protonwar and Empower 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.
- Is Protonwar free?
- Yes — Protonwar is a free-to-play Steam title. Empower is paid (17.99 USD).