Choose PAYDAY 2
Choose PAYDAY 2 if you want a RPG game with Tracked Controller Support, VR Supported, and Playable without Timed Input. On Steam, it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 87.3% positive across 174,145 reviews.
PAYDAY 2 vs Crime Simulator
PAYDAY 2 and Crime Simulator both land in Action 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 Action games on Steam. PAYDAY 2 (2013) is 12 years older than Crime Simulator (2025). PAYDAY 2 scores higher on Steam reviews (87.3% positive) than Crime Simulator (82.3% positive). 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 Crime Simulator
Choose Crime Simulator if you want an Indie and Simulation game with Steam Leaderboards and Adjustable Text Size. On Steam, it's the newer release (2025) and ships with the modern feature baseline. 1,852 Steam reviews back the pick.
Both PAYDAY 2 and Crime Simulator sit in Action on Steam and both list Multi-player, Online Co-op, and Camera Comfort, 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
 PAYDAY 2 |  Crime Simulator | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2013 | 2025 |
| Genres | Action, RPG | Action, Indie, Simulation |
| Platforms | Windows, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Deck Playable |
| Price | 9.99 USD | 14.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 87.3% positive (174,145 reviews) | 82.3% positive (1,852 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | OVERKILL - a Starbreeze Studio. | CookieDev |
Side by side
- Both are Action games on Steam.
- PAYDAY 2 (2013) is 12 years older than Crime Simulator (2025).
- PAYDAY 2 scores higher on Steam reviews (87.3% positive) than Crime Simulator (82.3% positive).
- PAYDAY 2 is currently ~33% cheaper on Steam than Crime Simulator (9.99 USD vs. 14.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
- Steam Deck: PAYDAY 2 is Deck Verified, Crime Simulator is Deck Playable.
PAYDAY 2 vs Crime Simulator — FAQ
- Which is better, PAYDAY 2 or Crime Simulator?
- On Steam reviews PAYDAY 2 scores higher (87.3% positive) than Crime Simulator (82.3% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, PAYDAY 2 is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.
- Should I play PAYDAY 2 or Crime Simulator first?
- If you want chronology, PAYDAY 2 (2013) came out before Crime Simulator (2025). 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 PAYDAY 2 and Crime Simulator similar?
- They overlap on Action 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 PAYDAY 2 and Crime Simulator have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: PAYDAY 2 ships Online Co-op, Co-op; Crime Simulator ships Online Co-op, Co-op.