Choose Retro Machina
Choose Retro Machina if it matches what drew you to this matchup. Retro Machina launched in 2021.
Retro Machina vs Phantom Tides
Retro Machina and Phantom Tides both land in 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 Indie, Adventure on Steam. Retro Machina (2021) is 3 years older than Phantom Tides (2024). Phantom Tides is currently ~77% cheaper on Steam than Retro Machina (3.99 USD vs. 16.99 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 Phantom Tides
Choose Phantom Tides if you want an Action and RPG experience. On Steam, it's currently about 77% cheaper on the Steam Store. Phantom Tides launched in 2024.
Both Retro Machina and Phantom Tides sit in Indie and 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
 Retro Machina |  Phantom Tides | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2021 | 2024 |
| Genres | Indie, Adventure | Action, Indie, Adventure, RPG |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Unsupported | Unrated |
| Price | 16.99 USD | 3.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 76.7% positive (60 reviews) | 4 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Orbit Studio | Kochaloch Games |
Side by side
- Both share Indie, Adventure on Steam.
- Retro Machina (2021) is 3 years older than Phantom Tides (2024).
- Phantom Tides is currently ~77% cheaper on Steam than Retro Machina (3.99 USD vs. 16.99 USD).
- Retro Machina is Deck Unsupported on Steam Deck; Phantom Tides has no Deck rating yet.
Retro Machina vs Phantom Tides — FAQ
- Should I play Retro Machina or Phantom Tides first?
- If you want chronology, Retro Machina (2021) came out before Phantom Tides (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 Retro Machina and Phantom Tides similar?
- They overlap on 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.