Choose Paperback Vol. 2
Choose Paperback Vol. 2 if you want a Strategy experience. Paperback Vol. 2 launched in 2022.
Paperback Vol. 2 vs Categories
Paperback Vol. 2 and Categories both land in 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 are Casual games on Steam. Paperback Vol. 2 (2022) is 4 years older than Categories (2026). Categories is free; Paperback Vol. 2 is paid (3.49 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 Categories
Choose Categories if you want an Indie and Free To Play experience. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. Categories launched in 2026.
Both Paperback Vol. 2 and Categories sit in Casual on Steam and both list Multi-player, Online PvP, and Online 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
 Paperback Vol. 2 |  Categories | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2022 | 2026 |
| Genres | Strategy, Casual | Indie, Free To Play, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | 3.49 USD | Free to play |
| Steam reviews | 69.2% positive (13 reviews) | — |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | Fowers Games | Jonas Hörner |
Side by side
- Both are Casual games on Steam.
- Paperback Vol. 2 (2022) is 4 years older than Categories (2026).
- Categories is free; Paperback Vol. 2 is paid (3.49 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
- Paperback Vol. 2 is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; Categories has no Deck rating yet.
Paperback Vol. 2 vs Categories — FAQ
- Should I play Paperback Vol. 2 or Categories first?
- If you want chronology, Paperback Vol. 2 (2022) came out before Categories (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 Paperback Vol. 2 and Categories similar?
- They overlap on 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.
- Do both Paperback Vol. 2 and Categories have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: Paperback Vol. 2 ships Online Co-op, Co-op; Categories ships Online Co-op, Co-op.
- Is Categories free?
- Yes — Categories is a free-to-play Steam title. Paperback Vol. 2 is paid (3.49 USD).
- Does Paperback Vol. 2 run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Paperback Vol. 2 is rated Deck Playable by Valve. Categories doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.