Choose The List
Choose The List if you want a Casual experience. The List launched in 2021.
The List vs Direct Investigation
The List and Direct Investigation both land in Indie, Adventure, Simulation 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, Adventure, Simulation on Steam. The List (2021) is 5 years older than Direct Investigation (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 Direct Investigation
Choose Direct Investigation if it's the newer release (2026) and ships with the modern feature baseline. Direct Investigation launched in 2026.
Both The List and Direct Investigation sit in Indie, Adventure, and Simulation 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
 The List |  Direct Investigation | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2021 | 2026 |
| Genres | Indie, Adventure, Simulation, Casual | Indie, Adventure, Simulation |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Unrated |
| Price | 5.99 USD | Price unknown |
| Steam reviews | 82.4% positive (85 reviews) | — |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Dan Trimble | Socopus Interactive |
Side by side
- Both share Indie, Adventure, Simulation on Steam.
- The List (2021) is 5 years older than Direct Investigation (2026).
The List vs Direct Investigation — FAQ
- Should I play The List or Direct Investigation first?
- If you want chronology, The List (2021) came out before Direct Investigation (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 The List and Direct Investigation similar?
- They overlap on Indie, Adventure, Simulation 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.