Choose Summer of '58
Choose Summer of '58 if it matches what drew you to this matchup. 1,719 Steam reviews back the pick.
Summer of '58 vs The Strange Lights
Summer of '58 and The Strange Lights both land in Indie, 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, Simulation on Steam. Summer of '58 (2021) is 5 years older than The Strange Lights (2026). Summer of '58 scores higher on Steam reviews (88.9% positive) than The Strange Lights (85.2% 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 The Strange Lights
Choose The Strange Lights if you want an Adventure experience. On Steam, it's currently about 61% cheaper on the Steam Store. The Strange Lights launched in 2026.
Both Summer of '58 and The Strange Lights sit in Indie 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
 Summer of '58 |  The Strange Lights | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2021 | 2026 |
| Genres | Indie, Simulation | Indie, Adventure, Simulation |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | 8.99 USD | 3.49 USD |
| Steam reviews | 88.9% positive (1,719 reviews) | 85.2% positive (61 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | EMIKA_GAMES | JustTomcuk |
Side by side
- Both share Indie, Simulation on Steam.
- Summer of '58 (2021) is 5 years older than The Strange Lights (2026).
- Summer of '58 scores higher on Steam reviews (88.9% positive) than The Strange Lights (85.2% positive).
- The Strange Lights is currently ~61% cheaper on Steam than Summer of '58 (3.49 USD vs. 8.99 USD).
- Summer of '58 is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; The Strange Lights has no Deck rating yet.
Summer of '58 vs The Strange Lights — FAQ
- Should I play Summer of '58 or The Strange Lights first?
- If you want chronology, Summer of '58 (2021) came out before The Strange Lights (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 Summer of '58 and The Strange Lights similar?
- They overlap on Indie, 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.
- Does Summer of '58 run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Summer of '58 is rated Deck Playable by Valve. The Strange Lights doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.