Choose Cursed Gem
Choose Cursed Gem if it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. Cursed Gem launched in 2020.
Cursed Gem vs Principle of Karma
Cursed Gem and Principle of Karma 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. Cursed Gem (2020) is 3 years older than Principle of Karma (2023). Cursed Gem is free; Principle of Karma is paid (1.39 USD). 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 Principle of Karma
Choose Principle of Karma if you want a Strategy and Racing experience. On Steam, it's the newer release (2023) and ships with the modern feature baseline. Principle of Karma launched in 2023.
Both Cursed Gem and Principle of Karma sit in Action, Indie, and Adventure on Steam and both list Steam Leaderboards, 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
 Cursed Gem |  Principle of Karma | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2020 | 2023 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Adventure, Casual | Action, Strategy, Indie, Adventure, Casual, Racing |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Unrated |
| Price | Free to play | 1.39 USD |
| Steam reviews | 90% positive (40 reviews) | 2 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | AikonCWD | NowakGames |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie, Adventure on Steam.
- Cursed Gem (2020) is 3 years older than Principle of Karma (2023).
- Cursed Gem is free; Principle of Karma is paid (1.39 USD).
Cursed Gem vs Principle of Karma — FAQ
- Should I play Cursed Gem or Principle of Karma first?
- If you want chronology, Cursed Gem (2020) came out before Principle of Karma (2023). 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 Cursed Gem and Principle of Karma 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.
- Is Cursed Gem free?
- Yes — Cursed Gem is a free-to-play Steam title. Principle of Karma is paid (1.39 USD).