Choose Uplink
Choose Uplink if it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 90.7% positive across 1,371 reviews.
Uplink vs Midnight Protocol
Uplink and Midnight Protocol both land in Strategy, 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 Strategy, Indie on Steam. Uplink (2006) is 15 years older than Midnight Protocol (2021). Uplink scores higher on Steam reviews (90.7% positive) than Midnight Protocol (85.3% 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 Midnight Protocol
Choose Midnight Protocol if you want an Action, Adventure, and RPG experience. On Steam, it's the newer release (2021) and ships with the modern feature baseline. Midnight Protocol launched in 2021.
Both Uplink and Midnight Protocol sit in Strategy and 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
 Uplink |  Midnight Protocol | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2006 | 2021 |
| Genres | Strategy, Indie | Action, Strategy, Indie, Adventure, RPG |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Deck Playable |
| Price | 8.99 USD | 14.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 90.7% positive (1,371 reviews) | 85.3% positive (156 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Introversion Software | LuGus Studios |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Indie on Steam.
- Uplink (2006) is 15 years older than Midnight Protocol (2021).
- Uplink scores higher on Steam reviews (90.7% positive) than Midnight Protocol (85.3% positive).
- Uplink is currently ~40% cheaper on Steam than Midnight Protocol (8.99 USD vs. 14.99 USD).
- Both are Deck Playable.
Uplink vs Midnight Protocol — FAQ
- Which is better, Uplink or Midnight Protocol?
- On Steam reviews Uplink scores higher (90.7% positive) than Midnight Protocol (85.3% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, Uplink is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.
- Should I play Uplink or Midnight Protocol first?
- If you want chronology, Uplink (2006) came out before Midnight Protocol (2021). 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 Uplink and Midnight Protocol similar?
- They overlap on Strategy, 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.