IMHO.

V Rising vs TheDark

V Rising and TheDark both land in 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 are Adventure games on Steam. TheDark (2022) is 2 years older than V Rising (2024). TheDark is currently ~91% cheaper on Steam than V Rising (2.99 USD vs. 34.99 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 V Rising

Choose V Rising if you want an Action and Massively Multiplayer game with Subtitle Options, Camera Comfort, and Custom Volume Controls. On Steam, it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. 53,797 Steam reviews back the pick.

Choose TheDark

Choose TheDark if you want an Early Access experience. On Steam, it's currently about 91% cheaper on the Steam Store. TheDark launched in 2022.

Both V Rising and TheDark sit in Adventure 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

V Rising vs TheDark — Steam metadata comparison
V Rising — Steam game coverV RisingTheDark — Steam game coverTheDark
Released20242022
GenresAction, Adventure, Massively MultiplayerAdventure, Early Access
PlatformsWindowsWindows
Steam DeckDeck VerifiedUnrated
Price34.99 USD2.99 USD
Steam reviews89.9% positive (53,797 reviews)1 reviews
MultiplayerMulti-player, Online Co-op, LAN Co-opMulti-player, Online Co-op, LAN Co-op
DevelopersStunlock StudiosWR3Games

Side by side

V Rising vs TheDark — FAQ

Should I play V Rising or TheDark first?
If you want chronology, TheDark (2022) came out before V Rising (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 V Rising and TheDark similar?
They overlap on 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.
Do both V Rising and TheDark have co-op?
Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: V Rising ships Online Co-op, LAN Co-op; TheDark ships Online Co-op, LAN Co-op.
Does V Rising run on Steam Deck?
Yes — V Rising is rated Deck Verified by Valve. TheDark doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.
V Rising vs TheDark — Verdict (2026) · imho.run