Choose The Architect's Game
Choose The Architect's Game if you want an Early Access experience. On Steam, it's currently about 50% cheaper on the Steam Store. The Architect's Game launched in 2021.
The Architect's Game vs LOCKDOWN Protocol
The Architect's Game and LOCKDOWN Protocol both land in Indie, Casual 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 Indie, Casual on Steam. The Architect's Game (2021) is 4 years older than LOCKDOWN Protocol (2025). The Architect's Game is currently ~50% cheaper on Steam than LOCKDOWN Protocol (4.99 USD vs. 9.99 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 LOCKDOWN Protocol
Choose LOCKDOWN Protocol if you want an Action and Strategy experience. On Steam, it's the newer release (2025) and ships with the modern feature baseline. 9,033 Steam reviews back the pick.
Both The Architect's Game and LOCKDOWN Protocol sit in Indie and Casual on Steam and both list Multi-player, Online PvP, and Online 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
 The Architect's Game |  LOCKDOWN Protocol | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2021 | 2025 |
| Genres | Indie, Casual, Early Access | Action, Strategy, Indie, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Deck Playable |
| Price | 4.99 USD | 9.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 1 reviews | 83.2% positive (9,033 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | SelianiDEV | Mirage Creative Lab |
Side by side
- Both share Indie, Casual on Steam.
- The Architect's Game (2021) is 4 years older than LOCKDOWN Protocol (2025).
- The Architect's Game is currently ~50% cheaper on Steam than LOCKDOWN Protocol (4.99 USD vs. 9.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
- LOCKDOWN Protocol is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; The Architect's Game has no Deck rating yet.
The Architect's Game vs LOCKDOWN Protocol — FAQ
- Should I play The Architect's Game or LOCKDOWN Protocol first?
- If you want chronology, The Architect's Game (2021) came out before LOCKDOWN Protocol (2025). 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 Architect's Game and LOCKDOWN Protocol similar?
- They overlap on Indie, Casual 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 The Architect's Game and LOCKDOWN Protocol have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: The Architect's Game ships Online Co-op, Co-op; LOCKDOWN Protocol ships Online Co-op, Co-op.