Choose Block in the Lock
Choose Block in the Lock if you want a Free To Play experience. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. Block in the Lock launched in 2019.
Block in the Lock vs Gem Setter
Block in the Lock and Gem Setter both land in Indie, Casual 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, Casual on Steam. Block in the Lock (2019) is 3 years older than Gem Setter (2022). Gem Setter scores higher on Steam reviews (95.2% positive) than Block in the Lock (93.3% 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 Gem Setter
Choose Gem Setter if you want a Strategy experience. On Steam, it's the newer release (2022) and ships with the modern feature baseline. Gem Setter launched in 2022.
Both Block in the Lock and Gem Setter sit in Indie and Casual on Steam, so either pick lands in the same broad neighborhood. Steam reviews are nearly tied (93.3% vs 95.2% positive), so genre fit is the cleanest tiebreaker — scroll the table for the feature-by-feature view.
Side-by-side comparison
 Block in the Lock |  Gem Setter | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2019 | 2022 |
| Genres | Indie, Free To Play, Casual | Strategy, Indie, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Unrated |
| Price | Free to play | 3.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 93.3% positive (45 reviews) | 95.2% positive (21 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Petorio, Peter Hofbauer | Onefin |
Side by side
- Both share Indie, Casual on Steam.
- Block in the Lock (2019) is 3 years older than Gem Setter (2022).
- Gem Setter scores higher on Steam reviews (95.2% positive) than Block in the Lock (93.3% positive).
- Block in the Lock is free; Gem Setter is paid (3.99 USD).
Block in the Lock vs Gem Setter — FAQ
- Should I play Block in the Lock or Gem Setter first?
- If you want chronology, Block in the Lock (2019) came out before Gem Setter (2022). 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 Block in the Lock and Gem Setter similar?
- They overlap on Indie, Casual 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.
- Is Block in the Lock free?
- Yes — Block in the Lock is a free-to-play Steam title. Gem Setter is paid (3.99 USD).