Choose Code Arcturus
Choose Code Arcturus if you want an Action game with Steam Leaderboards. On Steam, it's a focused single-player run rather than a multiplayer commitment. Code Arcturus launched in 2020.
Code Arcturus vs Around Us
Code Arcturus and Around Us both land in 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 are Indie games on Steam. Code Arcturus (2020) is 3 years older than Around Us (2023). Around Us is free; Code Arcturus is paid (3.99 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 Around Us
Choose Around Us if you want a Casual game with Multi-player, Online PvP, and Online Co-op. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. Around Us launched in 2023.
Both Code Arcturus and Around Us sit in 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
 Code Arcturus |  Around Us | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2020 | 2023 |
| Genres | Action, Indie | Indie, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Unrated |
| Price | 3.99 USD | Free to play |
| Steam reviews | 3 reviews | 71.4% positive (14 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | Norbert Érsek | H4RT |
Side by side
- Both are Indie games on Steam.
- Code Arcturus (2020) is 3 years older than Around Us (2023).
- Around Us is free; Code Arcturus is paid (3.99 USD).
- Around Us has co-op; Code Arcturus does not.
Code Arcturus vs Around Us — FAQ
- Should I play Code Arcturus or Around Us first?
- If you want chronology, Code Arcturus (2020) came out before Around Us (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 Code Arcturus and Around Us similar?
- They overlap on 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 Code Arcturus have multiplayer like Around Us?
- No. Around Us supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op), while Code Arcturus is listed as single-player only.
- Is Around Us free?
- Yes — Around Us is a free-to-play Steam title. Code Arcturus is paid (3.99 USD).