Choose Malicious Payload
Choose Malicious Payload if you want the Steam Leaderboards and Tracked Controller Support side of the pairing. On Steam, it's currently about 95% cheaper on the Steam Store. Malicious Payload launched in 2021.
Malicious Payload vs VirtualBuster
Malicious Payload and VirtualBuster 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. Malicious Payload (2021) is 3 years older than VirtualBuster (2024). Malicious Payload is currently ~95% cheaper on Steam than VirtualBuster (0.49 USD vs. 9.99 USD). 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 VirtualBuster
Choose VirtualBuster if you want a Simulation experience. On Steam, it's the newer release (2024) and ships with the modern feature baseline. VirtualBuster launched in 2024.
Both Malicious Payload and VirtualBuster sit in Action, Indie, and Adventure on Steam and both list VR Only, 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
 Malicious Payload |  VirtualBuster | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2021 | 2024 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Adventure, Casual | Action, Indie, Adventure, Simulation, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Unrated |
| Price | 0.49 USD | 9.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 6 reviews | 1 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Last Howl | AssortRockStudio |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie, Adventure on Steam.
- Malicious Payload (2021) is 3 years older than VirtualBuster (2024).
- Malicious Payload is currently ~95% cheaper on Steam than VirtualBuster (0.49 USD vs. 9.99 USD).
Malicious Payload vs VirtualBuster — FAQ
- Should I play Malicious Payload or VirtualBuster first?
- If you want chronology, Malicious Payload (2021) came out before VirtualBuster (2024). 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 Malicious Payload and VirtualBuster 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.