Choose Open Fishing XL
Choose Open Fishing XL if you want a Sports game with Multi-player, Online Co-op, and Custom Volume Controls. On Steam, it has co-op, so you can bring a friend. Open Fishing XL launched in 2023.
Open Fishing XL vs Once Upon a Swagman
Open Fishing XL and Once Upon a Swagman both land in Simulation, Casual 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 Simulation, Casual on Steam. Open Fishing XL (2023) is 3 years older than Once Upon a Swagman (2026). Open Fishing XL has co-op; Once Upon a Swagman does not. 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 Once Upon a Swagman
Choose Once Upon a Swagman if you want an Indie and Adventure experience. On Steam, it's the newer release (2026) and ships with the modern feature baseline. Once Upon a Swagman launched in 2026.
Both Open Fishing XL and Once Upon a Swagman sit in Simulation and Casual 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
 Open Fishing XL |  Once Upon a Swagman | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2023 | 2026 |
| Genres | Sports, Simulation, Casual | Indie, Adventure, Simulation, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows, macOS |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Unrated |
| Price | 4.99 USD | Price unknown |
| Steam reviews | 88.1% positive (42 reviews) | — |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op | Single-player only |
| Developers | Kunstaat | Joshua Morony |
Side by side
- Both share Simulation, Casual on Steam.
- Open Fishing XL (2023) is 3 years older than Once Upon a Swagman (2026).
- Open Fishing XL has co-op; Once Upon a Swagman does not.
Open Fishing XL vs Once Upon a Swagman — FAQ
- Should I play Open Fishing XL or Once Upon a Swagman first?
- If you want chronology, Open Fishing XL (2023) came out before Once Upon a Swagman (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 Open Fishing XL and Once Upon a Swagman similar?
- They overlap on Simulation, Casual 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 Once Upon a Swagman have multiplayer like Open Fishing XL?
- No. Open Fishing XL supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op), while Once Upon a Swagman is listed as single-player only.