IMHO.

Chess Brain vs Routemania

Chess Brain and Routemania both land in Strategy, Indie, Casual 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 Strategy, Indie, Casual on Steam. Chess Brain (2020) is 2 years older than Routemania (2022). Routemania scores higher on Steam reviews (100% positive) than Chess Brain (86.9% positive). 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 Chess Brain

Choose Chess Brain if it's currently about 80% cheaper on the Steam Store. Chess Brain launched in 2020.

Choose Routemania

Choose Routemania if it matches what drew you to this matchup. Routemania launched in 2022.

Both Chess Brain and Routemania sit in Strategy, Indie, and Casual 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

Chess Brain vs Routemania — Steam metadata comparison
Chess Brain — Steam game coverChess BrainRoutemania — Steam game coverRoutemania
Released20202022
GenresStrategy, Indie, CasualStrategy, Indie, Casual
PlatformsWindows, macOS, LinuxWindows, macOS
Steam DeckDeck PlayableUnrated
Price0.99 USD4.99 USD
Steam reviews86.9% positive (61 reviews)100% positive (15 reviews)
MultiplayerSingle-player onlySingle-player only
DevelopersCaio FlavioRoadtrip Games

Side by side

Chess Brain vs Routemania — FAQ

Should I play Chess Brain or Routemania first?
If you want chronology, Chess Brain (2020) came out before Routemania (2022). 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 Chess Brain and Routemania similar?
They overlap on Strategy, Indie, Casual 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 Chess Brain run on Steam Deck?
Yes — Chess Brain is rated Deck Playable by Valve. Routemania doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.
Chess Brain vs Routemania — Verdict (2026) · imho.run