Choose battleMETAL
Choose battleMETAL if you want a Simulation game with Online PvP, LAN PvP, and LAN Co-op. battleMETAL launched in 2020.
battleMETAL vs .synth_protocol
battleMETAL and .synth_protocol both land in Action, Indie 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 on Steam. battleMETAL (2020) is 6 years older than .synth_protocol (2026). Both support cooperative play. 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 .synth_protocol
Choose .synth_protocol if you want the Stereo Sound side of the pairing. On Steam, it's the newer release (2026) and ships with the modern feature baseline. .synth_protocol launched in 2026.
Both battleMETAL and .synth_protocol sit in Action and Indie on Steam and both list Multi-player, Online Co-op, and Co-op, 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
 battleMETAL |  .synth_protocol | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2020 | 2026 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Simulation | Action, Indie |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Unrated |
| Price | 9.99 USD | Price unknown |
| Steam reviews | 66.7% positive (21 reviews) | — |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Online Co-op, LAN Co-op | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | battleMETALDevs | DIT-Studio |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie on Steam.
- battleMETAL (2020) is 6 years older than .synth_protocol (2026).
- Both support cooperative play.
battleMETAL vs .synth_protocol — FAQ
- Should I play battleMETAL or .synth_protocol first?
- If you want chronology, battleMETAL (2020) came out before .synth_protocol (2026). 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 battleMETAL and .synth_protocol similar?
- They overlap on Action, Indie 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.
- Do both battleMETAL and .synth_protocol have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: battleMETAL ships Online Co-op, LAN Co-op; .synth_protocol ships Online Co-op, Co-op.