The Witness vs A SECOND BEFORE US
The Witness and A SECOND BEFORE US both land in Indie, 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 Indie, Adventure on Steam. The Witness (2016) is 1 year older than A SECOND BEFORE US (2017). The Witness scores higher on Steam reviews (82.6% positive) than A SECOND BEFORE US (48.4% positive). No login or purchase needed — scroll for the full table, the verdict FAQ, and links to ranked similar games for both titles.
Side-by-side comparison
 The Witness |  A SECOND BEFORE US | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2016 | 2017 |
| Genres | Indie, Adventure | Indie, Adventure |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | 39.99 USD | 3.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 82.6% positive (8,747 reviews) | 48.4% positive (31 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Thekla, Inc. | DimleTeam |
Side by side
- Both share Indie, Adventure on Steam.
- The Witness (2016) is 1 year older than A SECOND BEFORE US (2017).
- The Witness scores higher on Steam reviews (82.6% positive) than A SECOND BEFORE US (48.4% positive).
- A SECOND BEFORE US is currently ~90% cheaper on Steam than The Witness (3.99 USD vs. 39.99 USD).
- The Witness is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; A SECOND BEFORE US has no Deck rating yet.
The Witness vs A SECOND BEFORE US — FAQ
- Should I play The Witness or A SECOND BEFORE US first?
- If you want chronology, The Witness (2016) came out before A SECOND BEFORE US (2017). 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 The Witness and A SECOND BEFORE US similar?
- They overlap on Indie, 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.
- Does The Witness run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — The Witness is rated Deck Playable by Valve. A SECOND BEFORE US doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.