Choose ESC
Choose ESC if it matches what drew you to this matchup. ESC launched in 2020.
ESC vs The Simplest Game in the World
ESC and The Simplest Game in the World 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. ESC (2020) is 3 years older than The Simplest Game in the World (2023). The Simplest Game in the World is currently ~40% cheaper on Steam than ESC (2.99 USD vs. 4.99 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 The Simplest Game in the World
Choose The Simplest Game in the World if you want an Adventure, Simulation, and Casual experience. On Steam, it's currently about 40% cheaper on the Steam Store. The Simplest Game in the World launched in 2023.
Both ESC and The Simplest Game in the World 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
 ESC |  The Simplest Game in the World | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2020 | 2023 |
| Genres | Indie | Indie, Adventure, Simulation, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | 4.99 USD | 2.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 98.9% positive (88 reviews) | 3 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Lena Raine | Ke Zhou, 刻舟 |
Side by side
- Both are Indie games on Steam.
- ESC (2020) is 3 years older than The Simplest Game in the World (2023).
- The Simplest Game in the World is currently ~40% cheaper on Steam than ESC (2.99 USD vs. 4.99 USD).
- ESC is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; The Simplest Game in the World has no Deck rating yet.
ESC vs The Simplest Game in the World — FAQ
- Should I play ESC or The Simplest Game in the World first?
- If you want chronology, ESC (2020) came out before The Simplest Game in the World (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 ESC and The Simplest Game in the World 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 ESC run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — ESC is rated Deck Playable by Valve. The Simplest Game in the World doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.