Choose Valand
Choose Valand if you want an Indie experience. On Steam, it's currently about 47% cheaper on the Steam Store. Valand launched in 2022.
Valand vs DIRECT CONTACT
Valand and DIRECT CONTACT both land in Action, Strategy, 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, Strategy, Adventure on Steam. Valand (2022) is 2 years older than DIRECT CONTACT (2024). DIRECT CONTACT scores higher on Steam reviews (32.7% positive) than Valand (28.6% 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 DIRECT CONTACT
Choose DIRECT CONTACT if you want an Early Access and Racing experience. DIRECT CONTACT launched in 2024.
Both Valand and DIRECT CONTACT sit in Action, Strategy, and Adventure 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
 Valand |  DIRECT CONTACT | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2022 | 2024 |
| Genres | Action, Strategy, Indie, Adventure, Simulation | Action, Strategy, Adventure, Simulation, Early Access, Racing |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Unrated |
| Price | 7.99 USD | 14.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 28.6% positive (14 reviews) | 32.7% positive (165 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | LOMS Studio | Mountain 81 |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Strategy, Adventure on Steam.
- Valand (2022) is 2 years older than DIRECT CONTACT (2024).
- DIRECT CONTACT scores higher on Steam reviews (32.7% positive) than Valand (28.6% positive).
- Valand is currently ~47% cheaper on Steam than DIRECT CONTACT (7.99 USD vs. 14.99 USD).
Valand vs DIRECT CONTACT — FAQ
- Should I play Valand or DIRECT CONTACT first?
- If you want chronology, Valand (2022) came out before DIRECT CONTACT (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 Valand and DIRECT CONTACT similar?
- They overlap on Action, Strategy, 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.