Choose Vessel
Choose Vessel if it matches what drew you to this matchup. Vessel launched in 2012.
Vessel vs Clockwork
Vessel and Clockwork both land in Action, Strategy, Indie 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, Strategy, Indie on Steam. Vessel (2012) is 4 years older than Clockwork (2016). Vessel scores higher on Steam reviews (89.7% positive) than Clockwork (62.5% 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 Clockwork
Choose Clockwork if you want an Adventure and Casual experience. On Steam, it's currently about 40% cheaper on the Steam Store. Clockwork launched in 2016.
Both Vessel and Clockwork sit in Action, Strategy, and Indie 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
 Vessel |  Clockwork | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2012 | 2016 |
| Genres | Action, Strategy, Indie | Action, Strategy, Indie, Adventure, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows, macOS |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | 4.99 USD | 2.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 89.7% positive (282 reviews) | 62.5% positive (24 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Strange Loop Games | Gamesoft |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Strategy, Indie on Steam.
- Vessel (2012) is 4 years older than Clockwork (2016).
- Vessel scores higher on Steam reviews (89.7% positive) than Clockwork (62.5% positive).
- Clockwork is currently ~40% cheaper on Steam than Vessel (2.99 USD vs. 4.99 USD).
- Vessel is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; Clockwork has no Deck rating yet.
Vessel vs Clockwork — FAQ
- Should I play Vessel or Clockwork first?
- If you want chronology, Vessel (2012) came out before Clockwork (2016). 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 Vessel and Clockwork similar?
- They overlap on Action, Strategy, Indie 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 Vessel run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Vessel is rated Deck Playable by Valve. Clockwork doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.