Choose Per Aspera
Choose Per Aspera 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. 2,488 Steam reviews back the pick.
Per Aspera vs Illuminaria
Per Aspera and Illuminaria both land in Strategy, Indie, 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 share Strategy, Indie, Simulation on Steam. Per Aspera (2020) is 2 years older than Illuminaria (2022). Illuminaria scores higher on Steam reviews (83.9% positive) than Per Aspera (76.9% 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 Illuminaria
Choose Illuminaria if it's currently about 50% cheaper on the Steam Store. Illuminaria launched in 2022.
Both Per Aspera and Illuminaria sit in Strategy, Indie, and 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
 Per Aspera |  Illuminaria | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2020 | 2022 |
| Genres | Strategy, Indie, Simulation | Strategy, Indie, Simulation |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | 29.99 USD | 14.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 76.9% positive (2,488 reviews) | 83.9% positive (31 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op | Single-player only |
| Developers | Tlön Industries | Selva Interactive |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Indie, Simulation on Steam.
- Per Aspera (2020) is 2 years older than Illuminaria (2022).
- Illuminaria scores higher on Steam reviews (83.9% positive) than Per Aspera (76.9% positive).
- Illuminaria is currently ~50% cheaper on Steam than Per Aspera (14.99 USD vs. 29.99 USD).
- Per Aspera has co-op; Illuminaria does not.
- Per Aspera is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; Illuminaria has no Deck rating yet.
Per Aspera vs Illuminaria — FAQ
- Should I play Per Aspera or Illuminaria first?
- If you want chronology, Per Aspera (2020) came out before Illuminaria (2022). 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 Per Aspera and Illuminaria similar?
- They overlap on Strategy, Indie, 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 Illuminaria have multiplayer like Per Aspera?
- No. Per Aspera supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op), while Illuminaria is listed as single-player only.
- Does Per Aspera run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Per Aspera is rated Deck Playable by Valve. Illuminaria doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.