Choose Scathe
Choose Scathe if it matches what drew you to this matchup. Scathe launched in 2022.
Scathe vs Painkiller
Scathe and Painkiller 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. Scathe (2022) is 3 years older than Painkiller (2025). Both sit near 60% positive on Steam (Scathe: 145 reviews, Painkiller: 368). 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 Painkiller
Choose Painkiller if you want the Adjustable Text Size, Subtitle Options, and Color Alternatives side of the pairing. On Steam, it's currently about 60% cheaper on the Steam Store. Painkiller launched in 2025.
Both Scathe and Painkiller sit in Action on Steam and both list Multi-player, Online Co-op, and Co-op, so either pick lands in the same broad neighborhood. Steam reviews are nearly tied (60% vs 59.8% positive), so genre fit is the cleanest tiebreaker — scroll the table for the feature-by-feature view.
Side-by-side comparison
 Scathe |  Painkiller | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2022 | 2025 |
| Genres | Action | Action |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Deck Playable |
| Price | 24.99 USD | 9.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 60% positive (145 reviews) | 59.8% positive (368 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op |
| Developers | Damage State | Anshar Studios |
Side by side
- Both are Action games on Steam.
- Scathe (2022) is 3 years older than Painkiller (2025).
- Both sit near 60% positive on Steam (Scathe: 145 reviews, Painkiller: 368).
- Painkiller is currently ~60% cheaper on Steam than Scathe (9.99 USD vs. 24.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
- Painkiller is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; Scathe has no Deck rating yet.
Scathe vs Painkiller — FAQ
- Which is better, Scathe or Painkiller?
- On Steam reviews the two are nearly tied: Scathe sits at 60% positive (145 reviews), Painkiller at 59.8% (368). The choice usually comes down to genre fit and the platform features each one supports — see the comparison table above.
- Should I play Scathe or Painkiller first?
- If you want chronology, Scathe (2022) came out before Painkiller (2025). 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 Scathe and Painkiller 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 Scathe and Painkiller have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: Scathe ships Online Co-op, Co-op; Painkiller ships Online Co-op, Co-op.