Choose SHUT IN
Choose SHUT IN if you want an Indie experience. SHUT IN launched in 2020.
SHUT IN vs The Children's Friend
SHUT IN and The Children's Friend 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. SHUT IN (2020) is 2 years older than The Children's Friend (2022). The Children's Friend is currently ~40% cheaper on Steam than SHUT IN (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 Children's Friend
Choose The Children's Friend if it's currently about 40% cheaper on the Steam Store. The Children's Friend launched in 2022.
Both SHUT IN and The Children's Friend 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
 SHUT IN |  The Children's Friend | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2020 | 2022 |
| Genres | Indie, Adventure | Adventure |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Unrated |
| Price | 4.99 USD | 2.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 91.5% positive (71 reviews) | — |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Cael O'Sullivan | 727 Not Hound |
Side by side
- Both are Adventure games on Steam.
- SHUT IN (2020) is 2 years older than The Children's Friend (2022).
- The Children's Friend is currently ~40% cheaper on Steam than SHUT IN (2.99 USD vs. 4.99 USD).
SHUT IN vs The Children's Friend — FAQ
- Should I play SHUT IN or The Children's Friend first?
- If you want chronology, SHUT IN (2020) came out before The Children's Friend (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 SHUT IN and The Children's Friend 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.