Choose Natural Selection 2
Choose Natural Selection 2 if you want a Strategy game with Valve Anti-Cheat enabled. 5,398 Steam reviews back the pick.
Natural Selection 2 vs SQUIDS FROM SPACE
Natural Selection 2 and SQUIDS FROM SPACE 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. Natural Selection 2 (2012) is 5 years older than SQUIDS FROM SPACE (2017). SQUIDS FROM SPACE scores higher on Steam reviews (89.7% positive) than Natural Selection 2 (84.9% 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 SQUIDS FROM SPACE
Choose SQUIDS FROM SPACE if you want a Casual and Early Access experience. On Steam, it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 89.7% positive across 146 reviews.
Both Natural Selection 2 and SQUIDS FROM SPACE 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
 Natural Selection 2 |  SQUIDS FROM SPACE | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2012 | 2017 |
| Genres | Action, Strategy, Indie | Action, Indie, Casual, Early Access |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | 4.99 USD | Free to play |
| Steam reviews | 84.9% positive (5,398 reviews) | 89.7% positive (146 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player | Multi-player |
| Developers | Unknown Worlds Entertainment | Fun Bits |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie on Steam.
- Natural Selection 2 (2012) is 5 years older than SQUIDS FROM SPACE (2017).
- SQUIDS FROM SPACE scores higher on Steam reviews (89.7% positive) than Natural Selection 2 (84.9% positive).
- SQUIDS FROM SPACE is free; Natural Selection 2 is paid (4.99 USD).
- Natural Selection 2 is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; SQUIDS FROM SPACE has no Deck rating yet.
Natural Selection 2 vs SQUIDS FROM SPACE — FAQ
- Which is better, Natural Selection 2 or SQUIDS FROM SPACE?
- On Steam reviews SQUIDS FROM SPACE scores higher (89.7% positive) than Natural Selection 2 (84.9% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, SQUIDS FROM SPACE is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.
- Should I play Natural Selection 2 or SQUIDS FROM SPACE first?
- If you want chronology, Natural Selection 2 (2012) came out before SQUIDS FROM SPACE (2017). 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 Natural Selection 2 and SQUIDS FROM SPACE 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 SQUIDS FROM SPACE free?
- Yes — SQUIDS FROM SPACE is a free-to-play Steam title. Natural Selection 2 is paid (4.99 USD).
- Does Natural Selection 2 run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Natural Selection 2 is rated Deck Playable by Valve. SQUIDS FROM SPACE doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.