Choose Empyrean
Choose Empyrean if it matches what drew you to this matchup. Empyrean launched in 2016.
Empyrean vs Gilded Rails
Empyrean and Gilded Rails both land in Indie, Adventure, RPG 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 Indie, Adventure, RPG on Steam. Empyrean (2016) is 2 years older than Gilded Rails (2018). Empyrean scores higher on Steam reviews (66.7% positive) than Gilded Rails (20% 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 Gilded Rails
Choose Gilded Rails if it matches what drew you to this matchup. Gilded Rails launched in 2018.
Both Empyrean and Gilded Rails sit in Indie, Adventure, and RPG 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
 Empyrean |  Gilded Rails | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2016 | 2018 |
| Genres | Indie, Adventure, RPG | Indie, Adventure, RPG |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Unrated |
| Price | 6.99 USD | 6.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 66.7% positive (15 reviews) | 20% positive (10 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Choice of Games | Choice of Games |
Side by side
- Both share Indie, Adventure, RPG on Steam.
- Empyrean (2016) is 2 years older than Gilded Rails (2018).
- Empyrean scores higher on Steam reviews (66.7% positive) than Gilded Rails (20% positive).
- Gilded Rails is currently ~0% cheaper on Steam than Empyrean (6.99 USD vs. 6.99 USD).
Empyrean vs Gilded Rails — FAQ
- Should I play Empyrean or Gilded Rails first?
- If you want chronology, Empyrean (2016) came out before Gilded Rails (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 Empyrean and Gilded Rails similar?
- They overlap on Indie, Adventure, RPG 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.