Choose Variant 22
Choose Variant 22 if you want the Multi-player, Online Co-op, and Co-op side of the pairing. On Steam, it has co-op, so you can bring a friend. Variant 22 launched in 2023.
Variant 22 vs Containment Zone
Variant 22 and Containment Zone both land in Action, Indie 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 on Steam. Variant 22 (2023) is 1 year older than Containment Zone (2024). Containment Zone is currently ~29% cheaper on Steam than Variant 22 (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 Containment Zone
Choose Containment Zone if you want an Adventure and RPG experience. On Steam, it's currently about 29% cheaper on the Steam Store. Containment Zone launched in 2024.
Both Variant 22 and Containment Zone sit in Action and Indie 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
 Variant 22 |  Containment Zone | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2023 | 2024 |
| Genres | Action, Indie | Action, Indie, Adventure, RPG |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Unrated |
| Price | 13.99 USD | 9.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 6 reviews | 3 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op | Single-player only |
| Developers | ST Studios | Vlad Bondarenco |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie on Steam.
- Variant 22 (2023) is 1 year older than Containment Zone (2024).
- Containment Zone is currently ~29% cheaper on Steam than Variant 22 (9.99 USD vs. 13.99 USD).
- Variant 22 has co-op; Containment Zone does not.
Variant 22 vs Containment Zone — FAQ
- Should I play Variant 22 or Containment Zone first?
- If you want chronology, Variant 22 (2023) came out before Containment Zone (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 Variant 22 and Containment Zone similar?
- They overlap on Action, Indie 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 Containment Zone have multiplayer like Variant 22?
- No. Variant 22 supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op), while Containment Zone is listed as single-player only.