Choose Quake
Choose Quake if you want the Shared/Split Screen, Online PvP, and Shared/Split Screen PvP side of the pairing. On Steam, it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 96.4% positive across 9,755 reviews.
Quake vs Painkiller
Quake and Painkiller 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. Quake (2007) is 18 years older than Painkiller (2025). Quake scores higher on Steam reviews (96.4% positive) than Painkiller (59.8% 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 Painkiller
Choose Painkiller if you want the Adjustable Text Size, Subtitle Options, and Color Alternatives side of the pairing. On Steam, it's the newer release (2025) and ships with the modern feature baseline. Painkiller launched in 2025.
Both Quake and Painkiller 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
 Quake |  Painkiller | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2007 | 2025 |
| Genres | Action | Action |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Deck Playable |
| Price | 9.99 USD | 9.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 96.4% positive (9,755 reviews) | 59.8% positive (368 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op |
| Developers | id Software, Nightdive Studios, MachineGames | Anshar Studios |
Side by side
- Both are Action games on Steam.
- Quake (2007) is 18 years older than Painkiller (2025).
- Quake scores higher on Steam reviews (96.4% positive) than Painkiller (59.8% positive).
- Painkiller is currently ~0% cheaper on Steam than Quake (9.99 USD vs. 9.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
- Steam Deck: Quake is Deck Verified, Painkiller is Deck Playable.
Quake vs Painkiller — FAQ
- Which is better, Quake or Painkiller?
- On Steam reviews Quake scores higher (96.4% positive) than Painkiller (59.8% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, Quake is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.
- Should I play Quake or Painkiller first?
- If you want chronology, Quake (2007) came out before Painkiller (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 Quake and Painkiller 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 Quake and Painkiller have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: Quake ships Online Co-op, Shared/Split Screen Co-op; Painkiller ships Online Co-op, Co-op.