Choose On the front line
Choose On the front line if you want an Indie experience. On Steam, it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. On the front line launched in 2016.
On the front line vs Operation Serval
On the front line and Operation Serval 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. On the front line (2016) is 11 years older than Operation Serval (2027). Operation Serval is free; On the front line is paid (0.99 USD). 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 Operation Serval
Choose Operation Serval if you want an Action, Strategy, and Massively Multiplayer game with Multi-player, MMO, and Online PvP. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. Operation Serval launched in 2027.
Both On the front line and Operation Serval sit in 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
 On the front line |  Operation Serval | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2016 | 2027 |
| Genres | Indie, Simulation | Action, Strategy, Simulation, Massively Multiplayer, Free To Play |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Unrated |
| Price | 0.99 USD | Free to play |
| Steam reviews | 53.5% positive (43 reviews) | — |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | Alekseev | Ballistic Cookies |
Side by side
- Both are Simulation games on Steam.
- On the front line (2016) is 11 years older than Operation Serval (2027).
- Operation Serval is free; On the front line is paid (0.99 USD).
- Operation Serval has co-op; On the front line does not.
- On the front line is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Operation Serval has no Deck rating yet.
On the front line vs Operation Serval — FAQ
- Should I play On the front line or Operation Serval first?
- If you want chronology, On the front line (2016) came out before Operation Serval (2027). 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 On the front line and Operation Serval 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.
- Does On the front line have multiplayer like Operation Serval?
- No. Operation Serval supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op), while On the front line is listed as single-player only.
- Is Operation Serval free?
- Yes — Operation Serval is a free-to-play Steam title. On the front line is paid (0.99 USD).
- Does On the front line run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — On the front line is rated Deck Verified by Valve. Operation Serval doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.