Choose Elixir of Life
Choose Elixir of Life if you want an Early Access experience. Elixir of Life launched in 2021.
Elixir of Life vs Small Test
Elixir of Life and Small Test both land in Strategy, Indie, Adventure 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, Adventure on Steam. Elixir of Life (2021) is 3 years older than Small Test (2024). Small Test is currently ~60% cheaper on Steam than Elixir of Life (1.99 USD vs. 4.99 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 Small Test
Choose Small Test if you want an Action experience. On Steam, it's currently about 60% cheaper on the Steam Store. Small Test launched in 2024.
Both Elixir of Life and Small Test sit in Strategy, Indie, and Adventure 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
 Elixir of Life |  Small Test | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2021 | 2024 |
| Genres | Strategy, Indie, Adventure, Simulation, RPG, Casual, Early Access | Action, Strategy, Indie, Adventure, Simulation, RPG, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Unrated |
| Price | 4.99 USD | 1.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 2 reviews | 5 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Gurcan Games | UAIGolem |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Indie, Adventure on Steam.
- Elixir of Life (2021) is 3 years older than Small Test (2024).
- Small Test is currently ~60% cheaper on Steam than Elixir of Life (1.99 USD vs. 4.99 USD).
Elixir of Life vs Small Test — FAQ
- Should I play Elixir of Life or Small Test first?
- If you want chronology, Elixir of Life (2021) came out before Small Test (2024). 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 Elixir of Life and Small Test similar?
- They overlap on Strategy, Indie, Adventure 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.