Which is better, Valheim or ELDEN RING?

On Steam reviews the two are nearly tied: Valheim sits at 94.7% positive (254,749 reviews), ELDEN RING at 94.3% (426,636). The choice usually comes down to genre fit and the platform features each one supports — see the comparison table above.

Should I play Valheim or ELDEN RING first?

If you want chronology, Valheim (2021) came out before ELDEN RING (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 Valheim and ELDEN RING similar?

They overlap on Action, 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.

Do both Valheim and ELDEN RING have co-op?

Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: Valheim ships Online Co-op, Co-op; ELDEN RING ships Online Co-op, Co-op.

Do Valheim and ELDEN RING both run on Steam Deck?

Yes — both are Steam Deck Verified, meaning Valve confirms they run with full controller support, legible text, and default settings out of the box.

Valheim vs ELDEN RING

Valheim and ELDEN RING both land in Action, 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 Action, RPG on Steam. Valheim (2021) is 1 year older than ELDEN RING (2022). Both sit near 95% positive on Steam (Valheim: 254,749 reviews, ELDEN RING: 426,636). No login or purchase needed — scroll for the full table, the verdict FAQ, and links to ranked similar games for both titles.

Valheim vs ELDEN RING — Steam metadata comparison
	Valheim	ELDEN RING
Released	2021	2022
Genres	Action, Indie, Adventure, RPG, Early Access	Action, RPG
Platforms	Windows, macOS, Linux	Windows
Steam Deck	Deck Verified	Deck Verified
Price	19.99 USD	59.99 USD
Steam reviews	94.7% positive (254,749 reviews)	94.3% positive (426,636 reviews)
Multiplayer	Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op	Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op
Developers	Iron Gate AB	FromSoftware, Inc.

Side by side

Both share Action, RPG on Steam.
Valheim (2021) is 1 year older than ELDEN RING (2022).
Both sit near 95% positive on Steam (Valheim: 254,749 reviews, ELDEN RING: 426,636).
Valheim is currently ~67% cheaper on Steam than ELDEN RING (19.99 USD vs. 59.99 USD).
Both support cooperative play.
Both are Deck Verified.

Valheim vs ELDEN RING — FAQ

Which is better, Valheim or ELDEN RING?: On Steam reviews the two are nearly tied: Valheim sits at 94.7% positive (254,749 reviews), ELDEN RING at 94.3% (426,636). The choice usually comes down to genre fit and the platform features each one supports — see the comparison table above.
Should I play Valheim or ELDEN RING first?: If you want chronology, Valheim (2021) came out before ELDEN RING (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 Valheim and ELDEN RING similar?: They overlap on Action, 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.
Do both Valheim and ELDEN RING have co-op?: Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: Valheim ships Online Co-op, Co-op; ELDEN RING ships Online Co-op, Co-op.
Do Valheim and ELDEN RING both run on Steam Deck?: Yes — both are Steam Deck Verified, meaning Valve confirms they run with full controller support, legible text, and default settings out of the box.

Side-by-side comparison

Side by side

Valheim vs ELDEN RING — FAQ