Choose Valheim
Choose Valheim if you want the DualShock Controller Support, DualSense Controller Support, and Camera Comfort side of the pairing. 558,366 Steam reviews back the pick.
Valheim vs Core Keeper
Valheim and Core Keeper both land in Action, Indie, Adventure 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, Indie, Adventure on Steam. Core Keeper (2024) is 2 years older than Valheim (2026). Core Keeper scores higher on Steam reviews (94.8% positive) than Valheim (93.6% 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 Core Keeper
Choose Core Keeper if you want a Simulation experience. On Steam, it's currently about 60% cheaper on the Steam Store. 22,806 Steam reviews back the pick.
Both Valheim and Core Keeper sit in Action, Indie, and Adventure on Steam and both list Multi-player, Online Co-op, and Co-op, so either pick lands in the same broad neighborhood. Steam reviews are nearly tied (93.6% vs 94.8% positive), so genre fit is the cleanest tiebreaker — scroll the table for the feature-by-feature view.
Side-by-side comparison
 Valheim |  Core Keeper | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2026 | 2024 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Adventure, RPG | Action, Indie, Adventure, Simulation, RPG |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Deck Verified |
| Price | 29.99 USD | 11.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 93.6% positive (558,366 reviews) | 94.8% positive (22,806 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | Iron Gate AB | Pugstorm |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie, Adventure on Steam.
- Core Keeper (2024) is 2 years older than Valheim (2026).
- Core Keeper scores higher on Steam reviews (94.8% positive) than Valheim (93.6% positive).
- Core Keeper is currently ~60% cheaper on Steam than Valheim (11.99 USD vs. 29.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
- Both are Deck Verified.
Valheim vs Core Keeper — FAQ
- Which is better, Valheim or Core Keeper?
- On Steam reviews the two are nearly tied: Valheim sits at 93.6% positive (558,366 reviews), Core Keeper at 94.8% (22,806). 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 Core Keeper first?
- If you want chronology, Core Keeper (2024) came out before Valheim (2026). 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 Core Keeper similar?
- They overlap on Action, Indie, Adventure 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 Core Keeper have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: Valheim ships Online Co-op, Co-op; Core Keeper ships Online Co-op, Co-op.
- Do Valheim and Core Keeper 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.