Choose Time Rift
Choose Time Rift if it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. Time Rift launched in 2022.
Time Rift vs Area 37
Time Rift and Area 37 both land in Action, Indie 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 on Steam. Time Rift (2022) is 4 years older than Area 37 (2026). Time Rift is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Area 37 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 Area 37
Choose Area 37 if you want an Adventure game with DualShock Controller Support. On Steam, it's the newer release (2026) and ships with the modern feature baseline. Area 37 launched in 2026.
Both Time Rift and Area 37 sit in Action and Indie 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
 Time Rift |  Area 37 | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2022 | 2026 |
| Genres | Action, Indie | Action, Indie, Adventure |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Unrated |
| Price | 9.99 USD | Price unknown |
| Steam reviews | 100% positive (20 reviews) | — |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Lightshards, Abiding Bridge | Jeferson Dias |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie on Steam.
- Time Rift (2022) is 4 years older than Area 37 (2026).
- Time Rift is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Area 37 has no Deck rating yet.
Time Rift vs Area 37 — FAQ
- Should I play Time Rift or Area 37 first?
- If you want chronology, Time Rift (2022) came out before Area 37 (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 Time Rift and Area 37 similar?
- They overlap on Action, Indie 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 Time Rift run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Time Rift is rated Deck Verified by Valve. Area 37 doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.