Choose Thorny Times
Choose Thorny Times if you want the DualShock Controller Support side of the pairing.
Thorny Times vs Escape from Gridlock
Thorny Times and Escape from Gridlock both land in Strategy, Indie, RPG 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 Strategy, Indie, RPG on Steam. 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 Escape from Gridlock
Choose Escape from Gridlock if you want an Adventure and Early Access game with Camera Comfort and Stereo Sound. Escape from Gridlock launched in 2026.
Both Thorny Times and Escape from Gridlock sit in Strategy, Indie, and RPG on Steam and both list Custom Volume Controls, Playable without Timed Input, and Mouse Only Option, 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
 Thorny Times |  Escape from Gridlock | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | — | 2026 |
| Genres | Strategy, Indie, RPG | Strategy, Indie, Adventure, RPG, Early Access |
| Platforms | Windows, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Unrated |
| Price | Price unknown | Price unknown |
| Steam reviews | — | — |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Aterdux Entertainment™ | FOGMOE |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Indie, RPG on Steam.
Thorny Times vs Escape from Gridlock — FAQ
- Are Thorny Times and Escape from Gridlock similar?
- They overlap on Strategy, Indie, RPG 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.