Choose The Garden Path
Choose The Garden Path if you want the Shared/Split Screen and Shared/Split Screen Co-op side of the pairing. The Garden Path launched in 2024.
The Garden Path vs Pao Pao
The Garden Path and Pao Pao 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 Garden Path (2024) is 2 years older than Pao Pao (2026). Both support cooperative play. 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 Pao Pao
Choose Pao Pao if you want an Early Access game with Online Co-op, Custom Volume Controls, and Stereo Sound. Pao Pao launched in 2026.
Both The Garden Path and Pao Pao sit in Indie, Adventure, and Simulation on Steam and both list Multi-player and 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
 The Garden Path |  Pao Pao | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2024 | 2026 |
| Genres | Indie, Adventure, Simulation | Indie, Adventure, Simulation, Early Access |
| Platforms | Windows, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Unrated |
| Price | 19.99 USD | Price unknown |
| Steam reviews | 71.4% positive (35 reviews) | — |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | carrotcake | ArtDock |
Side by side
- Both share Indie, Adventure, Simulation on Steam.
- The Garden Path (2024) is 2 years older than Pao Pao (2026).
- Both support cooperative play.
The Garden Path vs Pao Pao — FAQ
- Should I play The Garden Path or Pao Pao first?
- If you want chronology, The Garden Path (2024) came out before Pao Pao (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 Garden Path and Pao Pao 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.
- Do both The Garden Path and Pao Pao have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: The Garden Path ships Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op; Pao Pao ships Online Co-op, Co-op.