Choose Painkiller
Choose Painkiller if you want the Adjustable Text Size, Subtitle Options, and Color Alternatives side of the pairing. Painkiller launched in 2025.
Painkiller vs Purge Phalanx
Painkiller and Purge Phalanx both land in Action 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 Action games on Steam. Painkiller (2025) is 2 years older than Purge Phalanx (2027). Both support cooperative play. 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 Purge Phalanx
Choose Purge Phalanx if you want the Shared/Split Screen, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, and LAN Co-op side of the pairing. Purge Phalanx launched in 2027.
Both Painkiller and Purge Phalanx sit in Action on Steam and both list Multi-player, Online Co-op, and Co-op, 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
 Painkiller |  Purge Phalanx | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2025 | 2027 |
| Genres | Action | Action |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | 9.99 USD | Price unknown |
| Steam reviews | 59.8% positive (368 reviews) | — |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Shared/Split Screen Co-op |
| Developers | Anshar Studios | Erebnyx Studio |
Side by side
- Both are Action games on Steam.
- Painkiller (2025) is 2 years older than Purge Phalanx (2027).
- Both support cooperative play.
- Painkiller is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; Purge Phalanx has no Deck rating yet.
Painkiller vs Purge Phalanx — FAQ
- Should I play Painkiller or Purge Phalanx first?
- If you want chronology, Painkiller (2025) came out before Purge Phalanx (2027). 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 Painkiller and Purge Phalanx similar?
- They overlap on Action 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.
- Do both Painkiller and Purge Phalanx have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: Painkiller ships Online Co-op, Co-op; Purge Phalanx ships Online Co-op, Shared/Split Screen Co-op.
- Does Painkiller run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Painkiller is rated Deck Playable by Valve. Purge Phalanx doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.