Choose PLANET ALPHA
Choose PLANET ALPHA if it matches what drew you to this matchup. PLANET ALPHA launched in 2018.
PLANET ALPHA vs Cosmos: Stella Returns
PLANET ALPHA and Cosmos: Stella Returns both land in Action, Indie, Adventure 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, Adventure on Steam. PLANET ALPHA (2018) is 5 years older than Cosmos: Stella Returns (2023). Cosmos: Stella Returns scores higher on Steam reviews (76.2% positive) than PLANET ALPHA (75.1% 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 Cosmos: Stella Returns
Choose Cosmos: Stella Returns if it's currently about 40% cheaper on the Steam Store. Cosmos: Stella Returns launched in 2023.
Both PLANET ALPHA and Cosmos: Stella Returns sit in Action, Indie, and Adventure on Steam, so either pick lands in the same broad neighborhood. Steam reviews are nearly tied (75.1% vs 76.2% positive), so genre fit is the cleanest tiebreaker — scroll the table for the feature-by-feature view.
Side-by-side comparison
 PLANET ALPHA |  Cosmos: Stella Returns | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2018 | 2023 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Adventure | Action, Indie, Adventure |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Unsupported | Unrated |
| Price | 9.99 USD | 5.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 75.1% positive (261 reviews) | 76.2% positive (21 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Planet Alpha ApS | SEEP |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie, Adventure on Steam.
- PLANET ALPHA (2018) is 5 years older than Cosmos: Stella Returns (2023).
- Cosmos: Stella Returns scores higher on Steam reviews (76.2% positive) than PLANET ALPHA (75.1% positive).
- Cosmos: Stella Returns is currently ~40% cheaper on Steam than PLANET ALPHA (5.99 USD vs. 9.99 USD).
- PLANET ALPHA is Deck Unsupported on Steam Deck; Cosmos: Stella Returns has no Deck rating yet.
PLANET ALPHA vs Cosmos: Stella Returns — FAQ
- Should I play PLANET ALPHA or Cosmos: Stella Returns first?
- If you want chronology, PLANET ALPHA (2018) came out before Cosmos: Stella Returns (2023). 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 PLANET ALPHA and Cosmos: Stella Returns similar?
- They overlap on Action, Indie, Adventure 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.