Choose Patchwork
Choose Patchwork if it's currently about 30% cheaper on the Steam Store. Patchwork launched in 2016.
Patchwork vs Gem Rush
Patchwork and Gem Rush both land in Strategy, Indie, Casual 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, Indie, Casual on Steam. Patchwork (2016) is 2 years older than Gem Rush (2018). Gem Rush scores higher on Steam reviews (92.9% positive) than Patchwork (77.6% 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 Gem Rush
Choose Gem Rush if you want the Online Co-op, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, and Co-op side of the pairing. On Steam, it has co-op, so you can bring a friend. Gem Rush launched in 2018.
Both Patchwork and Gem Rush sit in Strategy, Indie, and Casual on Steam and both list Multi-player, Steam Turn Notifications, and Online 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
 Patchwork |  Gem Rush | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2016 | 2018 |
| Genres | Strategy, Indie, Casual | Strategy, Indie, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | 6.99 USD | 9.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 77.6% positive (76 reviews) | 92.9% positive (14 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op |
| Developers | DIGIDICED | Quicksilver Software, Inc. |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Indie, Casual on Steam.
- Patchwork (2016) is 2 years older than Gem Rush (2018).
- Gem Rush scores higher on Steam reviews (92.9% positive) than Patchwork (77.6% positive).
- Patchwork is currently ~30% cheaper on Steam than Gem Rush (6.99 USD vs. 9.99 USD).
- Gem Rush has co-op; Patchwork does not.
- Patchwork is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; Gem Rush has no Deck rating yet.
Patchwork vs Gem Rush — FAQ
- Should I play Patchwork or Gem Rush first?
- If you want chronology, Patchwork (2016) came out before Gem Rush (2018). 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 Patchwork and Gem Rush similar?
- They overlap on Strategy, Indie, Casual 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.
- Does Patchwork run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Patchwork is rated Deck Playable by Valve. Gem Rush doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.