Choose The Test: Secrets of the Soul
Choose The Test: Secrets of the Soul if you want an Indie, Adventure, and Simulation 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 纸上的魔法使
The Test: Secrets of the Soul and 纸上的魔法使 both land in RPG, 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 RPG, Casual on Steam. The Test: Secrets of the Soul (2023) is 3 years older than 纸上的魔法使 (2026). The Test: Secrets of the Soul is free; 纸上的魔法使 is paid (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 纸上的魔法使
Choose 纸上的魔法使 if you want the Custom Volume Controls, Playable without Timed Input, and Mouse Only Option side of the pairing. On Steam, it's the newer release (2026) and ships with the modern feature baseline. 纸上的魔法使 launched in 2026.
Both The Test: Secrets of the Soul and 纸上的魔法使 sit in RPG 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
 The Test: Secrets of the Soul |  纸上的魔法使 | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2023 | 2026 |
| Genres | Indie, Adventure, Simulation, RPG, Free To Play, Casual | RPG, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Deck Unsupported |
| Price | Free to play | 29.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 98% positive (1,409 reviews) | 1 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Randumb Studios | UGUISUKAGURA |
Side by side
- Both share RPG, Casual on Steam.
- The Test: Secrets of the Soul (2023) is 3 years older than 纸上的魔法使 (2026).
- The Test: Secrets of the Soul is free; 纸上的魔法使 is paid (29.99 USD).
- Steam Deck: The Test: Secrets of the Soul is Deck Verified, 纸上的魔法使 is Deck Unsupported.
The Test: Secrets of the Soul vs 纸上的魔法使 — FAQ
- Should I play The Test: Secrets of the Soul or 纸上的魔法使 first?
- If you want chronology, The Test: Secrets of the Soul (2023) came out before 纸上的魔法使 (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 The Test: Secrets of the Soul and 纸上的魔法使 similar?
- They overlap on RPG, 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.
- Is The Test: Secrets of the Soul free?
- Yes — The Test: Secrets of the Soul is a free-to-play Steam title. 纸上的魔法使 is paid (29.99 USD).