Choose The Tartarus Key
Choose The Tartarus Key if you want the Subtitle Options, Camera Comfort, and Custom Volume Controls side of the pairing. On Steam, it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 95.4% positive across 195 reviews.
The Tartarus Key vs CLeM
The Tartarus Key and CLeM both land in 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 are Adventure games on Steam. The Tartarus Key (2023) is 1 year older than CLeM (2024). The Tartarus Key scores higher on Steam reviews (95.4% positive) than CLeM (90.9% 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 CLeM
Choose CLeM if you want an Indie experience. On Steam, it's currently about 20% cheaper on the Steam Store. CLeM launched in 2024.
Both The Tartarus Key and CLeM sit in 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
 The Tartarus Key |  CLeM | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2023 | 2024 |
| Genres | Adventure | Indie, Adventure |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Deck Verified |
| Price | 19.99 USD | 15.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 95.4% positive (195 reviews) | 90.9% positive (110 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Vertical Reach | Mango Protocol |
Side by side
- Both are Adventure games on Steam.
- The Tartarus Key (2023) is 1 year older than CLeM (2024).
- The Tartarus Key scores higher on Steam reviews (95.4% positive) than CLeM (90.9% positive).
- CLeM is currently ~20% cheaper on Steam than The Tartarus Key (15.99 USD vs. 19.99 USD).
- CLeM is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; The Tartarus Key has no Deck rating yet.
The Tartarus Key vs CLeM — FAQ
- Which is better, The Tartarus Key or CLeM?
- On Steam reviews The Tartarus Key scores higher (95.4% positive) than CLeM (90.9% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, The Tartarus Key is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.
- Should I play The Tartarus Key or CLeM first?
- If you want chronology, The Tartarus Key (2023) came out before CLeM (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 The Tartarus Key and CLeM similar?
- They overlap on 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.