Choose Stranger Things 3: The Game
Choose Stranger Things 3: The Game if you want an Adventure experience. On Steam, it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. Stranger Things 3: The Game launched in 2019.
Stranger Things 3: The Game vs Viral Reload EX
Stranger Things 3: The Game and Viral Reload EX both land in Action 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 Action games on Steam. Stranger Things 3: The Game (2019) is 7 years older than Viral Reload EX (2026). Both support cooperative play. 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 Viral Reload EX
Choose Viral Reload EX if you want an Indie game with DualShock Controller Support, Gamepad Recommended, and Camera Comfort. On Steam, it's the newer release (2026) and ships with the modern feature baseline. Viral Reload EX launched in 2026.
Both Stranger Things 3: The Game and Viral Reload EX sit in Action on Steam and both list Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen, and Shared/Split Screen Co-op, 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
 Stranger Things 3: The Game |  Viral Reload EX | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2019 | 2026 |
| Genres | Action, Adventure | Action, Indie |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Unrated |
| Price | Price unknown | 7.49 USD |
| Steam reviews | 84.5% positive (219 reviews) | 5 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op | Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | BonusXP | Retrocade Media |
Side by side
- Both are Action games on Steam.
- Stranger Things 3: The Game (2019) is 7 years older than Viral Reload EX (2026).
- Both support cooperative play.
- Stranger Things 3: The Game is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Viral Reload EX has no Deck rating yet.
Stranger Things 3: The Game vs Viral Reload EX — FAQ
- Should I play Stranger Things 3: The Game or Viral Reload EX first?
- If you want chronology, Stranger Things 3: The Game (2019) came out before Viral Reload EX (2026). 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 Stranger Things 3: The Game and Viral Reload EX similar?
- They overlap on Action 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.
- Do both Stranger Things 3: The Game and Viral Reload EX have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: Stranger Things 3: The Game ships Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op; Viral Reload EX ships Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op.
- Does Stranger Things 3: The Game run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Stranger Things 3: The Game is rated Deck Verified by Valve. Viral Reload EX doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.