Choose Patch Quest
Choose Patch Quest if you want the Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen, and Shared/Split Screen Co-op side of the pairing. On Steam, it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. 1,045 Steam reviews back the pick.
Patch Quest vs Impact Trial: First Encounter
Patch Quest and Impact Trial: First Encounter both land in Action, Indie, Adventure 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, Adventure on Steam. Patch Quest (2023) is 1 year older than Impact Trial: First Encounter (2024). Impact Trial: First Encounter is currently ~17% cheaper on Steam than Patch Quest (2.49 USD vs. 2.99 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 Impact Trial: First Encounter
Choose Impact Trial: First Encounter if you want a Casual experience. On Steam, it's a focused single-player run rather than a multiplayer commitment. Impact Trial: First Encounter launched in 2024.
Both Patch Quest and Impact Trial: First Encounter sit in Action, Indie, and Adventure 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
 Patch Quest |  Impact Trial: First Encounter | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2023 | 2024 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Adventure | Action, Indie, Adventure, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Unrated |
| Price | 2.99 USD | 2.49 USD |
| Steam reviews | 95.7% positive (1,045 reviews) | 3 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op | Single-player only |
| Developers | Lychee Game Labs | Manuel Bacallado |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie, Adventure on Steam.
- Patch Quest (2023) is 1 year older than Impact Trial: First Encounter (2024).
- Impact Trial: First Encounter is currently ~17% cheaper on Steam than Patch Quest (2.49 USD vs. 2.99 USD).
- Patch Quest has co-op; Impact Trial: First Encounter does not.
- Patch Quest is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Impact Trial: First Encounter has no Deck rating yet.
Patch Quest vs Impact Trial: First Encounter — FAQ
- Should I play Patch Quest or Impact Trial: First Encounter first?
- If you want chronology, Patch Quest (2023) came out before Impact Trial: First Encounter (2024). 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 Patch Quest and Impact Trial: First Encounter similar?
- They overlap on Action, Indie, Adventure 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 Impact Trial: First Encounter have multiplayer like Patch Quest?
- No. Patch Quest supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op), while Impact Trial: First Encounter is listed as single-player only.
- Does Patch Quest run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Patch Quest is rated Deck Verified by Valve. Impact Trial: First Encounter doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.