Choose Surviving Mars
Choose Surviving Mars if it matches what drew you to this matchup. 10,552 Steam reviews back the pick.
Surviving Mars vs Terraformers: First Steps on Mars
Surviving Mars and Terraformers: First Steps on Mars both land in Strategy, 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 share Strategy, Simulation on Steam. Surviving Mars (2018) is 3 years older than Terraformers: First Steps on Mars (2021). Terraformers: First Steps on Mars scores higher on Steam reviews (87.1% positive) than Surviving Mars (79% 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 Terraformers: First Steps on Mars
Choose Terraformers: First Steps on Mars if you want a Free To Play experience. On Steam, it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 87.1% positive across 325 reviews.
Both Surviving Mars and Terraformers: First Steps on Mars sit in Strategy and Simulation 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
 Surviving Mars |  Terraformers: First Steps on Mars | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2018 | 2021 |
| Genres | Strategy, Simulation | Strategy, Simulation, Free To Play |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Deck Unsupported | Unrated |
| Price | Price unknown | Free to play |
| Steam reviews | 79% positive (10,552 reviews) | 87.1% positive (325 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Haemimont Games, Abstraction | Asteroid Lab |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Simulation on Steam.
- Surviving Mars (2018) is 3 years older than Terraformers: First Steps on Mars (2021).
- Terraformers: First Steps on Mars scores higher on Steam reviews (87.1% positive) than Surviving Mars (79% positive).
- Terraformers: First Steps on Mars is free; Surviving Mars is paid (Price unknown).
- Surviving Mars is Deck Unsupported on Steam Deck; Terraformers: First Steps on Mars has no Deck rating yet.
Surviving Mars vs Terraformers: First Steps on Mars — FAQ
- Which is better, Surviving Mars or Terraformers: First Steps on Mars?
- On Steam reviews Terraformers: First Steps on Mars scores higher (87.1% positive) than Surviving Mars (79% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, Terraformers: First Steps on Mars is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.
- Should I play Surviving Mars or Terraformers: First Steps on Mars first?
- If you want chronology, Surviving Mars (2018) came out before Terraformers: First Steps on Mars (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 Surviving Mars and Terraformers: First Steps on Mars similar?
- They overlap on Strategy, 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 Terraformers: First Steps on Mars free?
- Yes — Terraformers: First Steps on Mars is a free-to-play Steam title. Surviving Mars is paid (Price unknown).