Choose Buddy Simulator 1984
Choose Buddy Simulator 1984 if you want an Indie, Simulation, and Casual experience. 3,155 Steam reviews back the pick.
Buddy Simulator 1984 vs Castle of Terror
Buddy Simulator 1984 and Castle of Terror both land in Adventure, RPG 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 Adventure, RPG on Steam. Buddy Simulator 1984 (2021) is 2 years older than Castle of Terror (2023). Castle of Terror is currently ~70% cheaper on Steam than Buddy Simulator 1984 (2.99 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 Castle of Terror
Choose Castle of Terror if it's currently about 70% cheaper on the Steam Store. Castle of Terror launched in 2023.
Both Buddy Simulator 1984 and Castle of Terror sit in Adventure and RPG 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
 Buddy Simulator 1984 |  Castle of Terror | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2021 | 2023 |
| Genres | Indie, Adventure, Simulation, RPG, Casual | Adventure, RPG |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | 9.99 USD | 2.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 94.3% positive (3,155 reviews) | 1 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Not a Sailor Studios | Beam Software, Melbourne House |
Side by side
- Both share Adventure, RPG on Steam.
- Buddy Simulator 1984 (2021) is 2 years older than Castle of Terror (2023).
- Castle of Terror is currently ~70% cheaper on Steam than Buddy Simulator 1984 (2.99 USD vs. 9.99 USD).
- Buddy Simulator 1984 is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; Castle of Terror has no Deck rating yet.
Buddy Simulator 1984 vs Castle of Terror — FAQ
- Should I play Buddy Simulator 1984 or Castle of Terror first?
- If you want chronology, Buddy Simulator 1984 (2021) came out before Castle of Terror (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 Buddy Simulator 1984 and Castle of Terror similar?
- They overlap on Adventure, RPG 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 Buddy Simulator 1984 run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Buddy Simulator 1984 is rated Deck Playable by Valve. Castle of Terror doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.