Choose Crystal Project
Choose Crystal Project if you want the Color Alternatives and Camera Comfort side of the pairing. On Steam, it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. 2,143 Steam reviews back the pick.
Crystal Project vs Hallowed Core
Crystal Project and Hallowed Core 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. Crystal Project (2022) is 4 years older than Hallowed Core (2026). Hallowed Core is free; Crystal Project is paid (13.99 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 Hallowed Core
Choose Hallowed Core if you want an Action and Free To Play game with DualShock Controller Support, DualSense Controller Support, and Touch Only Option. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. Hallowed Core launched in 2026.
Both Crystal Project and Hallowed Core sit in Strategy, Indie, and Adventure on Steam and both list Custom Volume Controls, Playable without Timed Input, and Keyboard Only Option, 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
 Crystal Project |  Hallowed Core | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2022 | 2026 |
| Genres | Strategy, Indie, Adventure, RPG | Action, Strategy, Indie, Adventure, RPG, Free To Play |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Unrated |
| Price | 13.99 USD | Free to play |
| Steam reviews | 92% positive (2,143 reviews) | 5 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Andrew Willman | Pyxis Studios |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Indie, Adventure on Steam.
- Crystal Project (2022) is 4 years older than Hallowed Core (2026).
- Hallowed Core is free; Crystal Project is paid (13.99 USD).
- Crystal Project is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Hallowed Core has no Deck rating yet.
Crystal Project vs Hallowed Core — FAQ
- Should I play Crystal Project or Hallowed Core first?
- If you want chronology, Crystal Project (2022) came out before Hallowed Core (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 Crystal Project and Hallowed Core 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.
- Is Hallowed Core free?
- Yes — Hallowed Core is a free-to-play Steam title. Crystal Project is paid (13.99 USD).
- Does Crystal Project run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Crystal Project is rated Deck Verified by Valve. Hallowed Core doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.