Choose DarkMatter: The Strange Messenger
Choose DarkMatter: The Strange Messenger if you want an Early Access experience. DarkMatter: The Strange Messenger launched in 2023.
DarkMatter: The Strange Messenger vs Bonehold
DarkMatter: The Strange Messenger and Bonehold both land in Action, 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 Action, Indie, Adventure on Steam. DarkMatter: The Strange Messenger (2023) is 3 years older than Bonehold (2026). Bonehold is currently ~29% cheaper on Steam than DarkMatter: The Strange Messenger (9.99 USD vs. 13.99 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 Bonehold
Choose Bonehold if you want the DualShock Controller Support, DualSense Controller Support, and Subtitle Options side of the pairing. On Steam, it's currently about 29% cheaper on the Steam Store. Bonehold launched in 2026.
Both DarkMatter: The Strange Messenger and Bonehold sit in Action, Indie, and Adventure 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 |  Bonehold | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2023 | 2026 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Adventure, RPG, Early Access | Action, Indie, Adventure, RPG |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Deck Playable |
| Price | 13.99 USD | 9.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | — | — |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Studio215 | Pixel Jackal, SaikingS |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie, Adventure on Steam.
- DarkMatter: The Strange Messenger (2023) is 3 years older than Bonehold (2026).
- Bonehold is currently ~29% cheaper on Steam than DarkMatter: The Strange Messenger (9.99 USD vs. 13.99 USD).
- Bonehold is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; DarkMatter: The Strange Messenger has no Deck rating yet.
DarkMatter: The Strange Messenger vs Bonehold — FAQ
- Should I play DarkMatter: The Strange Messenger or Bonehold first?
- If you want chronology, DarkMatter: The Strange Messenger (2023) came out before Bonehold (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 DarkMatter: The Strange Messenger and Bonehold similar?
- They overlap on Action, 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.