Choose OZARK
Choose OZARK if you want the DualShock Controller Support and Gamepad Recommended side of the pairing. OZARK launched in 2026.
OZARK vs Hard Time III
OZARK and Hard Time III 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. Hard Time III (2024) is 2 years older than OZARK (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 Hard Time III
Choose Hard Time III if you want a Simulation and RPG experience. On Steam, it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. Hard Time III launched in 2024.
Both OZARK and Hard Time III sit in Action, Indie, and Adventure on Steam and both list Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen, and Shared/Split Screen PvP, 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
 OZARK |  Hard Time III | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2026 | 2024 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Adventure | Action, Indie, Adventure, Simulation, RPG |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Deck Verified |
| Price | Price unknown | 14.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | — | 84.1% positive (748 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op | Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | ALTER-BOY | MDickie |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie, Adventure on Steam.
- Hard Time III (2024) is 2 years older than OZARK (2026).
- Both support cooperative play.
- Hard Time III is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; OZARK has no Deck rating yet.
OZARK vs Hard Time III — FAQ
- Should I play OZARK or Hard Time III first?
- If you want chronology, Hard Time III (2024) came out before OZARK (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 OZARK and Hard Time III 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.
- Do both OZARK and Hard Time III have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: OZARK ships Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op; Hard Time III ships Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op.