Choose Inspector Waffles
Choose Inspector Waffles if you want an Indie experience. On Steam, it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. Inspector Waffles launched in 2021.
Inspector Waffles vs Criminal Archives: Alphabetic Murders Collector's Edition
Inspector Waffles and Criminal Archives: Alphabetic Murders Collector's Edition both land in 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 are Adventure games on Steam. Inspector Waffles (2021) is 2 years older than Criminal Archives: Alphabetic Murders Collector's Edition (2023). Inspector Waffles scores higher on Steam reviews (95.5% positive) than Criminal Archives: Alphabetic Murders Collector's Edition (75% 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 Criminal Archives: Alphabetic Murders Collector's Edition
Choose Criminal Archives: Alphabetic Murders Collector's Edition if you want a Casual experience. On Steam, it's currently about 38% cheaper on the Steam Store. Criminal Archives: Alphabetic Murders Collector's Edition launched in 2023.
Both Inspector Waffles and Criminal Archives: Alphabetic Murders Collector's Edition sit in 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
 Inspector Waffles |  Criminal Archives: Alphabetic Murders Collector's Edition | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2021 | 2023 |
| Genres | Indie, Adventure | Adventure, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Deck Unsupported |
| Price | 12.99 USD | 7.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 95.5% positive (156 reviews) | 75% positive (12 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Goloso Games | Do Games Limited |
Side by side
- Both are Adventure games on Steam.
- Inspector Waffles (2021) is 2 years older than Criminal Archives: Alphabetic Murders Collector's Edition (2023).
- Inspector Waffles scores higher on Steam reviews (95.5% positive) than Criminal Archives: Alphabetic Murders Collector's Edition (75% positive).
- Criminal Archives: Alphabetic Murders Collector's Edition is currently ~38% cheaper on Steam than Inspector Waffles (7.99 USD vs. 12.99 USD).
- Steam Deck: Inspector Waffles is Deck Verified, Criminal Archives: Alphabetic Murders Collector's Edition is Deck Unsupported.
Inspector Waffles vs Criminal Archives: Alphabetic Murders Collector's Edition — FAQ
- Should I play Inspector Waffles or Criminal Archives: Alphabetic Murders Collector's Edition first?
- If you want chronology, Inspector Waffles (2021) came out before Criminal Archives: Alphabetic Murders Collector's Edition (2023). 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 Inspector Waffles and Criminal Archives: Alphabetic Murders Collector's Edition similar?
- They overlap on 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.