Choose Spacebase Startopia
Choose Spacebase Startopia if you want the Online PvP, Online Co-op, and Co-op side of the pairing. On Steam, it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. Spacebase Startopia launched in 2021.
Spacebase Startopia vs Square City Builder
Spacebase Startopia and Square City Builder both land in Strategy, 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, Simulation on Steam. Spacebase Startopia (2021) is 2 years older than Square City Builder (2023). Square City Builder is currently ~88% cheaper on Steam than Spacebase Startopia (4.99 USD vs. 39.99 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 Square City Builder
Choose Square City Builder if you want an Indie game with Shared/Split Screen and Shared/Split Screen PvP. On Steam, it's currently about 88% cheaper on the Steam Store. Square City Builder launched in 2023.
Both Spacebase Startopia and Square City Builder sit in Strategy and Simulation on Steam and both list Multi-player and PvP, 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
 Spacebase Startopia |  Square City Builder | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2021 | 2023 |
| Genres | Strategy, Simulation | Strategy, Indie, Simulation |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Unrated |
| Price | 39.99 USD | 4.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 50% positive (234 reviews) | 8 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op | Multi-player |
| Developers | Realmforge Studios | codegamerstudio |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Simulation on Steam.
- Spacebase Startopia (2021) is 2 years older than Square City Builder (2023).
- Square City Builder is currently ~88% cheaper on Steam than Spacebase Startopia (4.99 USD vs. 39.99 USD).
- Spacebase Startopia has co-op; Square City Builder does not.
- Spacebase Startopia is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Square City Builder has no Deck rating yet.
Spacebase Startopia vs Square City Builder — FAQ
- Should I play Spacebase Startopia or Square City Builder first?
- If you want chronology, Spacebase Startopia (2021) came out before Square City Builder (2023). 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 Spacebase Startopia and Square City Builder similar?
- They overlap on Strategy, 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 Spacebase Startopia run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Spacebase Startopia is rated Deck Verified by Valve. Square City Builder doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.