Choose DarkMatter: The Strange Messenger
Choose DarkMatter: The Strange Messenger if you want an Indie experience. On Steam, it's currently about 53% cheaper on the Steam Store. DarkMatter: The Strange Messenger launched in 2023.
DarkMatter: The Strange Messenger vs Path of Exile 2
DarkMatter: The Strange Messenger and Path of Exile 2 both land in Action, Adventure, 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 Action, Adventure, RPG on Steam. DarkMatter: The Strange Messenger (2023) is 1 year older than Path of Exile 2 (2024). DarkMatter: The Strange Messenger is currently ~53% cheaper on Steam than Path of Exile 2 (13.99 USD vs. 29.99 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 Path of Exile 2
Choose Path of Exile 2 if you want a Massively Multiplayer game with Multi-player, MMO, and Online Co-op. On Steam, it has co-op, so you can bring a friend. 89,636 Steam reviews back the pick.
Both DarkMatter: The Strange Messenger and Path of Exile 2 sit in Action, Adventure, and RPG on Steam, 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
 DarkMatter: The Strange Messenger |  Path of Exile 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2023 | 2024 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Adventure, RPG, Early Access | Action, Adventure, Massively Multiplayer, RPG, Early Access |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Deck Playable |
| Price | 13.99 USD | 29.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | — | 75.9% positive (89,636 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | Studio215 | Grinding Gear Games |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Adventure, RPG on Steam.
- DarkMatter: The Strange Messenger (2023) is 1 year older than Path of Exile 2 (2024).
- DarkMatter: The Strange Messenger is currently ~53% cheaper on Steam than Path of Exile 2 (13.99 USD vs. 29.99 USD).
- Path of Exile 2 has co-op; DarkMatter: The Strange Messenger does not.
- Path of Exile 2 is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; DarkMatter: The Strange Messenger has no Deck rating yet.
DarkMatter: The Strange Messenger vs Path of Exile 2 — FAQ
- Should I play DarkMatter: The Strange Messenger or Path of Exile 2 first?
- If you want chronology, DarkMatter: The Strange Messenger (2023) came out before Path of Exile 2 (2024). 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 DarkMatter: The Strange Messenger and Path of Exile 2 similar?
- They overlap on Action, Adventure, 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.
- Does DarkMatter: The Strange Messenger have multiplayer like Path of Exile 2?
- No. Path of Exile 2 supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op), while DarkMatter: The Strange Messenger is listed as single-player only.