Choose The Operator
Choose The Operator if you want an Indie game with Adjustable Text Size, Subtitle Options, and Color Alternatives. On Steam, it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. 3,406 Steam reviews back the pick.
The Operator vs Criminal Expert
The Operator and Criminal Expert both land in 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 Adventure, Simulation on Steam. Criminal Expert (2023) is 1 year older than The Operator (2024). Criminal Expert is currently ~29% cheaper on Steam than The Operator (9.99 USD vs. 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 Criminal Expert
Choose Criminal Expert if you want a Casual experience. On Steam, it's currently about 29% cheaper on the Steam Store. Criminal Expert launched in 2023.
Both The Operator and Criminal Expert sit in Adventure 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
 The Operator |  Criminal Expert | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2024 | 2023 |
| Genres | Indie, Adventure, Simulation | Adventure, Simulation, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Deck Playable |
| Price | 13.99 USD | 9.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 89.7% positive (3,406 reviews) | 9 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Bureau 81 | Forever Entertainment S. A. |
Side by side
- Both share Adventure, Simulation on Steam.
- Criminal Expert (2023) is 1 year older than The Operator (2024).
- Criminal Expert is currently ~29% cheaper on Steam than The Operator (9.99 USD vs. 13.99 USD).
- Steam Deck: The Operator is Deck Verified, Criminal Expert is Deck Playable.
The Operator vs Criminal Expert — FAQ
- Should I play The Operator or Criminal Expert first?
- If you want chronology, Criminal Expert (2023) came out before The Operator (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 The Operator and Criminal Expert similar?
- They overlap on 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.