Choose Murder by Numbers
Choose Murder by Numbers if you want an Adventure experience. On Steam, it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. Murder by Numbers launched in 2020.
Murder by Numbers vs Puzzle Spy International
Murder by Numbers and Puzzle Spy International both land in 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 are Indie games on Steam. Murder by Numbers (2020) is 6 years older than Puzzle Spy International (2026). Puzzle Spy International scores higher on Steam reviews (94.9% positive) than Murder by Numbers (86% 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 Puzzle Spy International
Choose Puzzle Spy International if it's the newer release (2026) and ships with the modern feature baseline. Puzzle Spy International launched in 2026.
Both Murder by Numbers and Puzzle Spy International sit in 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
 Murder by Numbers |  Puzzle Spy International | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2020 | 2026 |
| Genres | Indie, Adventure | Indie |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Deck Playable |
| Price | 14.99 USD | 12.50 USD |
| Steam reviews | 86% positive (947 reviews) | 94.9% positive (99 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Mediatonic | Travel-Friendly Cake |
Side by side
- Both are Indie games on Steam.
- Murder by Numbers (2020) is 6 years older than Puzzle Spy International (2026).
- Puzzle Spy International scores higher on Steam reviews (94.9% positive) than Murder by Numbers (86% positive).
- Puzzle Spy International is currently ~17% cheaper on Steam than Murder by Numbers (12.50 USD vs. 14.99 USD).
- Steam Deck: Murder by Numbers is Deck Verified, Puzzle Spy International is Deck Playable.
Murder by Numbers vs Puzzle Spy International — FAQ
- Should I play Murder by Numbers or Puzzle Spy International first?
- If you want chronology, Murder by Numbers (2020) came out before Puzzle Spy International (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 Murder by Numbers and Puzzle Spy International similar?
- They overlap on 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.