Choose Valheim
Choose Valheim if you want an Indie and RPG game with Multi-player, Online Co-op, and DualShock Controller Support. On Steam, it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. 552,569 Steam reviews back the pick.
Valheim vs Desolated District
Valheim and Desolated District both land in Action, 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, Adventure on Steam. Desolated District (2025) is 1 year older than Valheim (2026). Valheim scores higher on Steam reviews (93.8% positive) than Desolated District (71.4% 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 Desolated District
Choose Desolated District if it's currently about 78% cheaper on the Steam Store. Desolated District launched in 2025.
Both Valheim and Desolated District sit in Action and Adventure 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
 Valheim |  Desolated District | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2026 | 2025 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Adventure, RPG | Action, Adventure |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Unrated |
| Price | 29.99 USD | 6.74 USD |
| Steam reviews | 93.8% positive (552,569 reviews) | 71.4% positive (14 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op | Single-player only |
| Developers | Iron Gate AB | Real Heroes Studio, S.C. 16 BIT NIGHTS S.R.L. |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Adventure on Steam.
- Desolated District (2025) is 1 year older than Valheim (2026).
- Valheim scores higher on Steam reviews (93.8% positive) than Desolated District (71.4% positive).
- Desolated District is currently ~78% cheaper on Steam than Valheim (6.74 USD vs. 29.99 USD).
- Valheim has co-op; Desolated District does not.
- Valheim is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Desolated District has no Deck rating yet.
Valheim vs Desolated District — FAQ
- Should I play Valheim or Desolated District first?
- If you want chronology, Desolated District (2025) 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 Desolated District similar?
- They overlap on Action, 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.
- Does Desolated District have multiplayer like Valheim?
- No. Valheim supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op), while Desolated District is listed as single-player only.
- Does Valheim run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Valheim is rated Deck Verified by Valve. Desolated District doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.