Choose Sanctum 2
Choose Sanctum 2 if you want the Multi-player, Online Co-op, and Co-op side of the pairing. On Steam, it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. 4,330 Steam reviews back the pick.
Sanctum 2 vs Hold the Core
Sanctum 2 and Hold the Core both land in Action, Strategy, Indie 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, Indie on Steam. Sanctum 2 (2013) is 13 years older than Hold the Core (2026). Hold the Core is currently ~60% cheaper on Steam than Sanctum 2 (5.94 USD vs. 14.99 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 Hold the Core
Choose Hold the Core if you want the Camera Comfort, Custom Volume Controls, and Stereo Sound side of the pairing. On Steam, it's currently about 60% cheaper on the Steam Store. Hold the Core launched in 2026.
Both Sanctum 2 and Hold the Core sit in Action, Strategy, and Indie on Steam and both list Steam Leaderboards, 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
 Sanctum 2 |  Hold the Core | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2013 | 2026 |
| Genres | Action, Strategy, Indie | Action, Strategy, Indie |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Unrated |
| Price | 14.99 USD | 5.94 USD |
| Steam reviews | 92.3% positive (4,330 reviews) | 1 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op | Single-player only |
| Developers | Coffee Stain Studios | Faven Games |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Strategy, Indie on Steam.
- Sanctum 2 (2013) is 13 years older than Hold the Core (2026).
- Hold the Core is currently ~60% cheaper on Steam than Sanctum 2 (5.94 USD vs. 14.99 USD).
- Sanctum 2 has co-op; Hold the Core does not.
- Sanctum 2 is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Hold the Core has no Deck rating yet.
Sanctum 2 vs Hold the Core — FAQ
- Should I play Sanctum 2 or Hold the Core first?
- If you want chronology, Sanctum 2 (2013) came out before Hold the Core (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 Sanctum 2 and Hold the Core similar?
- They overlap on Action, Strategy, Indie 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 Hold the Core have multiplayer like Sanctum 2?
- No. Sanctum 2 supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op), while Hold the Core is listed as single-player only.
- Does Sanctum 2 run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Sanctum 2 is rated Deck Verified by Valve. Hold the Core doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.