Choose Shattering Obsidian
Choose Shattering Obsidian if it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. Shattering Obsidian launched in 2020.
Shattering Obsidian vs New Arc Line
Shattering Obsidian and New Arc Line both land in 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 are RPG games on Steam. Shattering Obsidian (2020) is 4 years older than New Arc Line (2024). Shattering Obsidian is free; New Arc Line is paid (24.99 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 New Arc Line
Choose New Arc Line if you want an Early Access experience. On Steam, it's the newer release (2024) and ships with the modern feature baseline. New Arc Line launched in 2024.
Both Shattering Obsidian and New Arc Line sit in 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
 Shattering Obsidian |  New Arc Line | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2020 | 2024 |
| Genres | RPG | RPG, Early Access |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Deck Unsupported |
| Price | Free to play | 24.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 7 reviews | 75.4% positive (370 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | James K. Isaac | Dreamate |
Side by side
- Both are RPG games on Steam.
- Shattering Obsidian (2020) is 4 years older than New Arc Line (2024).
- Shattering Obsidian is free; New Arc Line is paid (24.99 USD).
- New Arc Line is Deck Unsupported on Steam Deck; Shattering Obsidian has no Deck rating yet.
Shattering Obsidian vs New Arc Line — FAQ
- Should I play Shattering Obsidian or New Arc Line first?
- If you want chronology, Shattering Obsidian (2020) came out before New Arc Line (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 Shattering Obsidian and New Arc Line similar?
- They overlap on 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.
- Is Shattering Obsidian free?
- Yes — Shattering Obsidian is a free-to-play Steam title. New Arc Line is paid (24.99 USD).