Choose The Drifter
Choose The Drifter if you want the Stereo Sound and Save Anytime side of the pairing. On Steam, it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. 3,185 Steam reviews back the pick.
The Drifter vs Apestin Explorer
The Drifter and Apestin Explorer 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. The Drifter (2025) is 1 year older than Apestin Explorer (2026). The Drifter is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Apestin Explorer has no Deck rating yet. 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 Apestin Explorer
Choose Apestin Explorer if you want the Subtitle Options and Keyboard Only Option side of the pairing. Apestin Explorer launched in 2026.
Both The Drifter and Apestin Explorer sit in Indie and Adventure on Steam and both list Custom Volume Controls, Playable without Timed Input, and Mouse Only Option, 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
 The Drifter |  Apestin Explorer | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2025 | 2026 |
| Genres | Indie, Adventure | Indie, Adventure |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Unrated |
| Price | 19.99 USD | Price unknown |
| Steam reviews | 97.7% positive (3,185 reviews) | — |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Powerhoof, Dave Lloyd | SAND Games |
Side by side
- Both share Indie, Adventure on Steam.
- The Drifter (2025) is 1 year older than Apestin Explorer (2026).
- The Drifter is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Apestin Explorer has no Deck rating yet.
The Drifter vs Apestin Explorer — FAQ
- Should I play The Drifter or Apestin Explorer first?
- If you want chronology, The Drifter (2025) came out before Apestin Explorer (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 The Drifter and Apestin Explorer 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.
- Does The Drifter run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — The Drifter is rated Deck Verified by Valve. Apestin Explorer doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.