Choose Harsh
Choose Harsh if it's currently about 50% cheaper on the Steam Store. Harsh launched in 2018.
Harsh vs Rune Knights
Harsh and Rune Knights both land in Indie, RPG, Early Access 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, RPG, Early Access on Steam. Harsh (2018) is 2 years older than Rune Knights (2020). Harsh is currently ~50% cheaper on Steam than Rune Knights (9.99 USD vs. 19.99 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 Rune Knights
Choose Rune Knights if you want an Action game with Steam Leaderboards. Rune Knights launched in 2020.
Both Harsh and Rune Knights sit in Indie, RPG, and Early Access on Steam and both list Multi-player, Online Co-op, and Co-op, 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
 Harsh |  Rune Knights | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2018 | 2020 |
| Genres | Indie, RPG, Early Access | Action, Indie, RPG, Early Access |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Unrated |
| Price | 9.99 USD | 19.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 7 reviews | 79.3% positive (179 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | Harsh Reality Productions LLC | Aeromir |
Side by side
- Both share Indie, RPG, Early Access on Steam.
- Harsh (2018) is 2 years older than Rune Knights (2020).
- Harsh is currently ~50% cheaper on Steam than Rune Knights (9.99 USD vs. 19.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
Harsh vs Rune Knights — FAQ
- Should I play Harsh or Rune Knights first?
- If you want chronology, Harsh (2018) came out before Rune Knights (2020). 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 Harsh and Rune Knights similar?
- They overlap on Indie, RPG, Early Access 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.
- Do both Harsh and Rune Knights have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: Harsh ships Online Co-op, Co-op; Rune Knights ships Online Co-op, Co-op.