Choose Howdy, Jacob!
Choose Howdy, Jacob! if it matches what drew you to this matchup. Howdy, Jacob! launched in 2020.
Howdy, Jacob! vs Sludge Department
Howdy, Jacob! and Sludge Department both land in 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 are Indie games on Steam. Howdy, Jacob! (2020) is 6 years older than Sludge Department (2026). 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 Sludge Department
Choose Sludge Department if you want an Adventure and Casual game with Custom Volume Controls, Stereo Sound, and Playable without Timed Input. On Steam, it's the newer release (2026) and ships with the modern feature baseline. Sludge Department launched in 2026.
Both Howdy, Jacob! and Sludge Department sit in Indie 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
 Howdy, Jacob! |  Sludge Department | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2020 | 2026 |
| Genres | Indie | Indie, Adventure, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Unrated |
| Price | 1.99 USD | Price unknown |
| Steam reviews | 87.3% positive (71 reviews) | — |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | SeedBolt Studios LLC | Simon Juhl |
Side by side
- Both are Indie games on Steam.
- Howdy, Jacob! (2020) is 6 years older than Sludge Department (2026).
Howdy, Jacob! vs Sludge Department — FAQ
- Should I play Howdy, Jacob! or Sludge Department first?
- If you want chronology, Howdy, Jacob! (2020) came out before Sludge Department (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 Howdy, Jacob! and Sludge Department similar?
- They overlap on 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.