Choose Daemonic Runner
Choose Daemonic Runner if you want an Indie experience. On Steam, it's a focused single-player run rather than a multiplayer commitment. Daemonic Runner launched in 2020.
Daemonic Runner vs Painkiller
Daemonic Runner 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. Daemonic Runner (2020) is 5 years older than Painkiller (2025). Daemonic Runner scores higher on Steam reviews (72.2% positive) than Painkiller (59.8% 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 Painkiller
Choose Painkiller if you want the Multi-player, Online Co-op, and Adjustable Text Size side of the pairing. On Steam, it's the newer release (2025) and ships with the modern feature baseline. Painkiller launched in 2025.
Both Daemonic Runner and Painkiller sit in Action 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
 Daemonic Runner |  Painkiller | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2020 | 2025 |
| Genres | Action, Indie | Action |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Deck Playable |
| Price | 8.99 USD | 9.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 72.2% positive (36 reviews) | 59.8% positive (368 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op |
| Developers | Sergey Bobrov | Anshar Studios |
Side by side
- Both are Action games on Steam.
- Daemonic Runner (2020) is 5 years older than Painkiller (2025).
- Daemonic Runner scores higher on Steam reviews (72.2% positive) than Painkiller (59.8% positive).
- Daemonic Runner is currently ~10% cheaper on Steam than Painkiller (8.99 USD vs. 9.99 USD).
- Painkiller has co-op; Daemonic Runner does not.
- Painkiller is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; Daemonic Runner has no Deck rating yet.
Daemonic Runner vs Painkiller — FAQ
- Should I play Daemonic Runner or Painkiller first?
- If you want chronology, Daemonic Runner (2020) 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 Daemonic Runner 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.
- Does Daemonic Runner have multiplayer like Painkiller?
- No. Painkiller supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op), while Daemonic Runner is listed as single-player only.