Shadow Empire vs Terraforming Mars
Which one is worth buying now, with today's prices and each game's recommendation.
Terraforming Mars wins 9 of 14 head-to-head metrics. Terraforming Mars is $7.53 cheaper.
Metric by metric
The winner of each row gets a ✓. No row weighs more than another; the recommendation is calculated separately.
| Metric | Shadow Empire | Terraforming Mars |
|---|---|---|
| GameValio scoreRecommendation: Maybe × Maybe | 61 | 60 |
| Quality | 79 | 60 |
| Value | 67 | 83 |
| Popularity | 26 | 30 |
| Current Best Price (USD) | $9.39 | $1.86 |
| Steam Review Score | 82.3% positive | 71.4% positive |
| Average Concurrent Players (14 days) | 74 | 322 |
Where to buy
The 3 cheapest stores for each game
Side by side over time
Shadow EmpireTerraforming Mars
Details and requirements
| Item | Shadow Empire | Terraforming Mars |
|---|---|---|
| Release date | December 3, 2020 | October 17, 2018 |
| Developers | VR Designs | Artefacts Studio |
| Publishers | Matrix Games | Twin Sails Interactive |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows, MacOs |
| OS (minimum) | Windows Windows 8, Windows 10 | — |
| Processor (minimum) | 1.5 GHZ | — |
| Memory (minimum) | 2 GB RAM | — |
| Graphics (minimum) | 8MB video memory, 1280x768 or higher resolution | — |
| DirectX (minimum) | Version 9.0 | — |
| Storage (minimum) | 1 GB available space | — |
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: Shadow Empire or Terraforming Mars?
Terraforming Mars won the comparison against Shadow Empire 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 Shadow Empire worth buying over Terraforming Mars?
Based on the metrics, Terraforming Mars 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. Terraforming Mars currently scores better on value relative to its quality and price.
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Analysis updated: Oct 24, 2026, 04:09 PM UTC