IMHO.

The Darkest Files vs NOL

The Darkest Files and NOL both land in 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 are Simulation games on Steam. The Darkest Files is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; NOL has no Deck rating yet. 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 The Darkest Files

Choose The Darkest Files if you want an Indie and Adventure game with Subtitle Options, Mouse Only Option, and Adjustable Difficulty. On Steam, it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. The Darkest Files launched in 2025.

Choose NOL

Choose NOL if you want the Stereo Sound and Narrated Game Menus side of the pairing.

Both The Darkest Files and NOL sit in Simulation on Steam and both list Adjustable Text Size, Camera Comfort, and Custom Volume Controls, 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 Darkest Files vs NOL — Steam metadata comparison
The Darkest Files — Steam game coverThe Darkest FilesNOL — Steam game coverNOL
Released2025—
GenresIndie, Adventure, SimulationSimulation
PlatformsWindows, macOSWindows
Steam DeckDeck VerifiedUnrated
Price19.99 USDPrice unknown
Steam reviews94.7% positive (340 reviews)—
MultiplayerSingle-player onlySingle-player only
DevelopersPaintbucket GamesTeam NOL

Side by side

The Darkest Files vs NOL — FAQ

Are The Darkest Files and NOL similar?
They overlap on 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.
Does The Darkest Files run on Steam Deck?
Yes — The Darkest Files is rated Deck Verified by Valve. NOL doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.
The Darkest Files vs NOL — Verdict (2026) · imho.run