Choose ShotForge
Choose ShotForge if you want an Indie experience. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. ShotForge launched in 2016.
ShotForge vs Vacation Simulator
ShotForge and Vacation Simulator both land in 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 are Simulation games on Steam. ShotForge (2016) is 3 years older than Vacation Simulator (2019). Vacation Simulator scores higher on Steam reviews (92.2% positive) than ShotForge (74.6% 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 Vacation Simulator
Choose Vacation Simulator if you want an Action and Adventure experience. On Steam, it's the newer release (2019) and ships with the modern feature baseline. Vacation Simulator launched in 2019.
Both ShotForge and Vacation Simulator sit in Simulation on Steam and both list Tracked Controller Support and VR Only, 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
 ShotForge |  Vacation Simulator | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2016 | 2019 |
| Genres | Indie, Simulation | Action, Adventure, Simulation |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Deck Unsupported |
| Price | Free to play | 19.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 74.6% positive (59 reviews) | 92.2% positive (706 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Alix | Owlchemy Labs |
Side by side
- Both are Simulation games on Steam.
- ShotForge (2016) is 3 years older than Vacation Simulator (2019).
- Vacation Simulator scores higher on Steam reviews (92.2% positive) than ShotForge (74.6% positive).
- ShotForge is free; Vacation Simulator is paid (19.99 USD).
- Vacation Simulator is Deck Unsupported on Steam Deck; ShotForge has no Deck rating yet.
ShotForge vs Vacation Simulator — FAQ
- Should I play ShotForge or Vacation Simulator first?
- If you want chronology, ShotForge (2016) came out before Vacation Simulator (2019). 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 ShotForge and Vacation Simulator similar?
- They overlap on 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 ShotForge free?
- Yes — ShotForge is a free-to-play Steam title. Vacation Simulator is paid (19.99 USD).