Choose Bartlow's Dread Machine
Choose Bartlow's Dread Machine if it's currently about 40% cheaper on the Steam Store. Bartlow's Dread Machine launched in 2020.
Bartlow's Dread Machine vs Spellbearers
Bartlow's Dread Machine and Spellbearers 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. Bartlow's Dread Machine (2020) is 2 years older than Spellbearers (2022). Bartlow's Dread Machine is currently ~40% cheaper on Steam than Spellbearers (5.99 USD vs. 9.99 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 Spellbearers
Choose Spellbearers if you want a Strategy, Adventure, and RPG experience. Spellbearers launched in 2022.
Both Bartlow's Dread Machine and Spellbearers sit in Action on Steam and both list Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen, and Shared/Split Screen Co-op, 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
 Bartlow's Dread Machine |  Spellbearers | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2020 | 2022 |
| Genres | Action | Action, Strategy, Adventure, RPG |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Unsupported | Unrated |
| Price | 5.99 USD | 9.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 80% positive (15 reviews) | 7 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op | Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | Beep Games, Inc., Tribetoy | Whim Independent Studios |
Side by side
- Both are Action games on Steam.
- Bartlow's Dread Machine (2020) is 2 years older than Spellbearers (2022).
- Bartlow's Dread Machine is currently ~40% cheaper on Steam than Spellbearers (5.99 USD vs. 9.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
- Bartlow's Dread Machine is Deck Unsupported on Steam Deck; Spellbearers has no Deck rating yet.
Bartlow's Dread Machine vs Spellbearers — FAQ
- Should I play Bartlow's Dread Machine or Spellbearers first?
- If you want chronology, Bartlow's Dread Machine (2020) came out before Spellbearers (2022). 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 Bartlow's Dread Machine and Spellbearers 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 Bartlow's Dread Machine and Spellbearers have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: Bartlow's Dread Machine ships Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op; Spellbearers ships Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op.