Choose EVE Online
Choose EVE Online if you want a Free To Play game with Online PvP, Online Co-op, and PvP. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. 22,693 Steam reviews back the pick.
EVE Online vs Elite Dangerous
EVE Online and Elite Dangerous both land in Action, Strategy, Massively Multiplayer 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 Action, Strategy, Massively Multiplayer on Steam. EVE Online (2010) is 5 years older than Elite Dangerous (2015). Elite Dangerous scores higher on Steam reviews (76.7% positive) than EVE Online (72.9% 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 Elite Dangerous
Choose Elite Dangerous if you want an Adventure and Simulation game with VR Supported. On Steam, it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 76.7% positive across 52,491 reviews.
Both EVE Online and Elite Dangerous sit in Action, Strategy, and Massively Multiplayer on Steam and both list Multi-player, MMO, 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
 EVE Online |  Elite Dangerous | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2010 | 2015 |
| Genres | Action, Strategy, Massively Multiplayer, RPG, Free To Play | Action, Strategy, Adventure, Simulation, Massively Multiplayer, RPG |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Deck Playable |
| Price | Free to play | 19.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 72.9% positive (22,693 reviews) | 76.7% positive (52,491 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op | Multi-player, Co-op |
| Developers | CCP | Frontier Developments |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Strategy, Massively Multiplayer on Steam.
- EVE Online (2010) is 5 years older than Elite Dangerous (2015).
- Elite Dangerous scores higher on Steam reviews (76.7% positive) than EVE Online (72.9% positive).
- EVE Online is free; Elite Dangerous is paid (19.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
- Both are Deck Playable.
EVE Online vs Elite Dangerous — FAQ
- Which is better, EVE Online or Elite Dangerous?
- On Steam reviews Elite Dangerous scores higher (76.7% positive) than EVE Online (72.9% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, Elite Dangerous is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.
- Should I play EVE Online or Elite Dangerous first?
- If you want chronology, EVE Online (2010) came out before Elite Dangerous (2015). 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 EVE Online and Elite Dangerous similar?
- They overlap on Action, Strategy, Massively Multiplayer 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 EVE Online and Elite Dangerous have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: EVE Online ships Online Co-op, Co-op; Elite Dangerous ships Co-op.
- Is EVE Online free?
- Yes — EVE Online is a free-to-play Steam title. Elite Dangerous is paid (19.99 USD).