Choose The Test: Secrets of the Soul
Choose The Test: Secrets of the Soul if you want an Indie, Simulation, and RPG experience. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. 1,409 Steam reviews back the pick.
The Test: Secrets of the Soul vs Return to Ash
The Test: Secrets of the Soul and Return to Ash both land in 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 are Adventure games on Steam. The Test: Secrets of the Soul (2023) is 2 years older than Return to Ash (2025). Return to Ash scores higher on Steam reviews (100% positive) than The Test: Secrets of the Soul (98% 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 Return to Ash
Choose Return to Ash if it matches what drew you to this matchup. Return to Ash launched in 2025.
Both The Test: Secrets of the Soul and Return to Ash sit in 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
 The Test: Secrets of the Soul |  Return to Ash | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2023 | 2025 |
| Genres | Indie, Adventure, Simulation, RPG, Free To Play, Casual | Adventure |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Unrated |
| Price | Free to play | 4.49 USD |
| Steam reviews | 98% positive (1,409 reviews) | 100% positive (86 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Randumb Studios | Serenity Forge |
Side by side
- Both are Adventure games on Steam.
- The Test: Secrets of the Soul (2023) is 2 years older than Return to Ash (2025).
- Return to Ash scores higher on Steam reviews (100% positive) than The Test: Secrets of the Soul (98% positive).
- The Test: Secrets of the Soul is free; Return to Ash is paid (4.49 USD).
- The Test: Secrets of the Soul is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Return to Ash has no Deck rating yet.
The Test: Secrets of the Soul vs Return to Ash — FAQ
- Should I play The Test: Secrets of the Soul or Return to Ash first?
- If you want chronology, The Test: Secrets of the Soul (2023) came out before Return to Ash (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 The Test: Secrets of the Soul and Return to Ash similar?
- They overlap on 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.
- Is The Test: Secrets of the Soul free?
- Yes — The Test: Secrets of the Soul is a free-to-play Steam title. Return to Ash is paid (4.49 USD).
- Does The Test: Secrets of the Soul run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — The Test: Secrets of the Soul is rated Deck Verified by Valve. Return to Ash doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.