EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 The Shadow of New Despair vs EARTH DEFENSE FORCE: IRON RAIN
Which one is worth buying now, with today's prices and each game's recommendation.
EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 The Shadow of New Despair wins 11 of 15 head-to-head metrics. EARTH DEFENSE FORCE: IRON RAIN is $4.26 cheaper.
Metric by metric
The winner of each row gets a ✓. No row weighs more than another; the recommendation is calculated separately.
| Metric | EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 The Shadow of New Despair | EARTH DEFENSE FORCE: IRON RAIN |
|---|---|---|
| GameValio scoreRecommendation: Worth It × Maybe | 70 | 64 |
| Quality | 90 | 58 |
| Value | 67 | 100 |
| Popularity | 32 | 25 |
| Current Best Price (USD) | $6.91 | $2.65 |
| Steam Review Score | 95.8% positive | 58.4% positive |
| Average Concurrent Players (14 days) | 109 | 5 |
Where to buy
The 3 cheapest stores for each game
EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 The Shadow of New Despair
EARTH DEFENSE FORCE: IRON RAIN
Side by side over time
EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 The Shadow of New DespairEARTH DEFENSE FORCE: IRON RAIN
Details and requirements
| Item | EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 The Shadow of New Despair | EARTH DEFENSE FORCE: IRON RAIN |
|---|---|---|
| Release date | July 18, 2016 | October 15, 2019 |
| Developers | SANDLOT | YUKE'S |
| Publishers | D3PUBLISHER | D3PUBLISHER |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| OS (minimum) | Windows 7 64bit, Windows 8.1 64bit Windows 10 64bit | Windows 7 64bit, Windows 8.1 64bit Windows 10 64bit |
| Processor (minimum) | 3.2GHz 4Core | Intel Core i7-4770/AMD Ryzen 5 1400 |
| Memory (minimum) | 8 GB RAM | 8 GB RAM |
| Graphics (minimum) | AMD Radeon HD 7970 / NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760 （3GB Model or higher） | GeForce GTX 1050 Ti / Radeon R9 280 3GB |
| DirectX (minimum) | Version 11 | Version 11 |
| Network (minimum) | Broadband Internet connection | Broadband Internet connection |
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 The Shadow of New Despair or EARTH DEFENSE FORCE: IRON RAIN?
EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 The Shadow of New Despair won the comparison against EARTH DEFENSE FORCE: IRON RAIN based on the head-to-head metric breakdown. Check the metrics table above for a full side-by-side analysis.
How is the comparison calculated?
The comparison winner is determined objectively by counting which game wins more individual metrics in the head-to-head table. No weighting is applied. The GameValio Recommendation shown separately is our own suggestion for each game, based on a weighted score that combines quality (reviews), popularity (player counts), and affordability (price vs value) into a score out of 100. These are two different things: the comparison is objective, the recommendation is GameValio's opinion.
Is EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 The Shadow of New Despair worth buying over EARTH DEFENSE FORCE: IRON RAIN?
Based on the metrics, EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 The Shadow of New Despair won the direct comparison. However, also check the GameValio Recommendation for each game and the price comparison table to make the most informed purchase decision.
Which game has better player reviews?
Review score trends and volume over time are shown in the charts section above. The game with consistently higher positive ratios has stronger community reception.
Which game offers better value for money?
The affordability score and price comparison table above highlight the best deals. EARTH DEFENSE FORCE: IRON RAIN currently scores better on value relative to its quality and price.
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Analysis updated: Oct 24, 2026, 02:09 PM UTC