Choose Riven
Choose Riven if you want the Tracked Controller Support, VR Supported, and Color Alternatives side of the pairing. On Steam, it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. 2,175 Steam reviews back the pick.
Riven vs A SIMPLE REQUEST
Riven and A SIMPLE REQUEST both land in Indie, Adventure, Casual 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, Casual on Steam. A SIMPLE REQUEST (2023) is 1 year older than Riven (2024). Riven scores higher on Steam reviews (93.5% positive) than A SIMPLE REQUEST (54.5% 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 A SIMPLE REQUEST
Choose A SIMPLE REQUEST if you want a Simulation experience. On Steam, it's currently about 71% cheaper on the Steam Store. A SIMPLE REQUEST launched in 2023.
Both Riven and A SIMPLE REQUEST sit in Indie, Adventure, and Casual on Steam and both list HDR available, 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
 Riven |  A SIMPLE REQUEST | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2024 | 2023 |
| Genres | Indie, Adventure, Casual | Indie, Adventure, Simulation, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Unrated |
| Price | 34.99 USD | 9.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 93.5% positive (2,175 reviews) | 54.5% positive (11 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Cyan Worlds, Inc. | Michael Derek |
Side by side
- Both share Indie, Adventure, Casual on Steam.
- A SIMPLE REQUEST (2023) is 1 year older than Riven (2024).
- Riven scores higher on Steam reviews (93.5% positive) than A SIMPLE REQUEST (54.5% positive).
- A SIMPLE REQUEST is currently ~71% cheaper on Steam than Riven (9.99 USD vs. 34.99 USD).
- Riven is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; A SIMPLE REQUEST has no Deck rating yet.
Riven vs A SIMPLE REQUEST — FAQ
- Should I play Riven or A SIMPLE REQUEST first?
- If you want chronology, A SIMPLE REQUEST (2023) came out before Riven (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 Riven and A SIMPLE REQUEST similar?
- They overlap on Indie, Adventure, Casual 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 Riven run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Riven is rated Deck Verified by Valve. A SIMPLE REQUEST doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.