Choose Wasteland 3
Choose Wasteland 3 if you want the Multi-player, Online Co-op, and Co-op side of the pairing. On Steam, it has co-op, so you can bring a friend. 11,050 Steam reviews back the pick.
Wasteland 3 vs Frontier: Path of Shadows
Wasteland 3 and Frontier: Path of Shadows both land in Strategy, 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 Strategy, RPG on Steam. Wasteland 3 (2020) is 6 years older than Frontier: Path of Shadows (2026). Frontier: Path of Shadows scores higher on Steam reviews (91.4% positive) than Wasteland 3 (85.1% 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 Frontier: Path of Shadows
Choose Frontier: Path of Shadows if you want an Indie experience. On Steam, it's currently about 63% cheaper on the Steam Store. Frontier: Path of Shadows launched in 2026.
Both Wasteland 3 and Frontier: Path of Shadows sit in Strategy 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
 Wasteland 3 |  Frontier: Path of Shadows | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2020 | 2026 |
| Genres | Strategy, RPG | Strategy, Indie, RPG |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | 39.99 USD | 14.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 85.1% positive (11,050 reviews) | 91.4% positive (58 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op | Single-player only |
| Developers | inXile Entertainment | Oduvan Games |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, RPG on Steam.
- Wasteland 3 (2020) is 6 years older than Frontier: Path of Shadows (2026).
- Frontier: Path of Shadows scores higher on Steam reviews (91.4% positive) than Wasteland 3 (85.1% positive).
- Frontier: Path of Shadows is currently ~63% cheaper on Steam than Wasteland 3 (14.99 USD vs. 39.99 USD).
- Wasteland 3 has co-op; Frontier: Path of Shadows does not.
- Wasteland 3 is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; Frontier: Path of Shadows has no Deck rating yet.
Wasteland 3 vs Frontier: Path of Shadows — FAQ
- Should I play Wasteland 3 or Frontier: Path of Shadows first?
- If you want chronology, Wasteland 3 (2020) came out before Frontier: Path of Shadows (2026). 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 Wasteland 3 and Frontier: Path of Shadows similar?
- They overlap on Strategy, 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.
- Does Frontier: Path of Shadows have multiplayer like Wasteland 3?
- No. Wasteland 3 supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op), while Frontier: Path of Shadows is listed as single-player only.
- Does Wasteland 3 run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Wasteland 3 is rated Deck Playable by Valve. Frontier: Path of Shadows doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.