Choose Dead Space
Choose Dead Space if you want the Subtitle Options side of the pairing. On Steam, it's a focused single-player run rather than a multiplayer commitment. 29,773 Steam reviews back the pick.
Dead Space vs SMS Returns
Dead Space and SMS Returns both land in Action, 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 Action, Adventure on Steam. Dead Space (2023) is 3 years older than SMS Returns (2026). Dead Space scores higher on Steam reviews (90.2% positive) than SMS Returns (85.7% 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 SMS Returns
Choose SMS Returns if you want an Indie game with Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen, and Online Co-op. On Steam, it's currently about 83% cheaper on the Steam Store. SMS Returns launched in 2026.
Both Dead Space and SMS Returns sit in Action and Adventure on Steam and both list HDR available, Color Alternatives, and Camera Comfort, 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
 Dead Space |  SMS Returns | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2023 | 2026 |
| Genres | Action, Adventure | Action, Indie, Adventure |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | 59.99 USD | 9.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 90.2% positive (29,773 reviews) | 85.7% positive (98 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Shared/Split Screen Co-op |
| Developers | Motive | Marc Steene |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Adventure on Steam.
- Dead Space (2023) is 3 years older than SMS Returns (2026).
- Dead Space scores higher on Steam reviews (90.2% positive) than SMS Returns (85.7% positive).
- SMS Returns is currently ~83% cheaper on Steam than Dead Space (9.99 USD vs. 59.99 USD).
- SMS Returns has co-op; Dead Space does not.
- Dead Space is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; SMS Returns has no Deck rating yet.
Dead Space vs SMS Returns — FAQ
- Should I play Dead Space or SMS Returns first?
- If you want chronology, Dead Space (2023) came out before SMS Returns (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 Dead Space and SMS Returns similar?
- They overlap on Action, 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.
- Does Dead Space have multiplayer like SMS Returns?
- No. SMS Returns supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player, Online Co-op, Shared/Split Screen Co-op), while Dead Space is listed as single-player only.
- Does Dead Space run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Dead Space is rated Deck Playable by Valve. SMS Returns doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.