Choose Unboxing the Cryptic Killer
Choose Unboxing the Cryptic Killer if you want an Indie experience. 1,257 Steam reviews back the pick.
Unboxing the Cryptic Killer vs Detective tales: A Study in Scarlet
Unboxing the Cryptic Killer and Detective tales: A Study in Scarlet both land in 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 Adventure, Casual on Steam. Detective tales: A Study in Scarlet (2022) is 1 year older than Unboxing the Cryptic Killer (2023). Detective tales: A Study in Scarlet is currently ~17% cheaper on Steam than Unboxing the Cryptic Killer (4.99 USD vs. 5.99 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 Detective tales: A Study in Scarlet
Choose Detective tales: A Study in Scarlet if you want an Early Access experience. Detective tales: A Study in Scarlet launched in 2022.
Both Unboxing the Cryptic Killer and Detective tales: A Study in Scarlet sit in Adventure and Casual on Steam and both list Multi-player, Online Co-op, and 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
 Unboxing the Cryptic Killer |  Detective tales: A Study in Scarlet | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2023 | 2022 |
| Genres | Indie, Adventure, Casual | Adventure, Casual, Early Access |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | 5.99 USD | 4.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 91.4% positive (1,257 reviews) | 3 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | Eleven Puzzles | Escape Pod |
Side by side
- Both share Adventure, Casual on Steam.
- Detective tales: A Study in Scarlet (2022) is 1 year older than Unboxing the Cryptic Killer (2023).
- Detective tales: A Study in Scarlet is currently ~17% cheaper on Steam than Unboxing the Cryptic Killer (4.99 USD vs. 5.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
- Unboxing the Cryptic Killer is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; Detective tales: A Study in Scarlet has no Deck rating yet.
Unboxing the Cryptic Killer vs Detective tales: A Study in Scarlet — FAQ
- Should I play Unboxing the Cryptic Killer or Detective tales: A Study in Scarlet first?
- If you want chronology, Detective tales: A Study in Scarlet (2022) came out before Unboxing the Cryptic Killer (2023). 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 Unboxing the Cryptic Killer and Detective tales: A Study in Scarlet similar?
- They overlap on 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.
- Do both Unboxing the Cryptic Killer and Detective tales: A Study in Scarlet have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: Unboxing the Cryptic Killer ships Online Co-op, Co-op; Detective tales: A Study in Scarlet ships Online Co-op, Co-op.
- Does Unboxing the Cryptic Killer run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Unboxing the Cryptic Killer is rated Deck Playable by Valve. Detective tales: A Study in Scarlet doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.