Choose The Swapper
Choose The Swapper if it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. 3,406 Steam reviews back the pick.
The Swapper vs Traverser
The Swapper and Traverser both land in Action, Indie, 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 share Action, Indie, Adventure on Steam. The Swapper (2013) is 2 years older than Traverser (2015). The Swapper scores higher on Steam reviews (93.8% positive) than Traverser (65.5% 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 Traverser
Choose Traverser if it matches what drew you to this matchup. Traverser launched in 2015.
Both The Swapper and Traverser sit in Action, Indie, and 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 Swapper |  Traverser | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2013 | 2015 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Adventure | Action, Indie, Adventure |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Unrated |
| Price | 14.99 USD | Price unknown |
| Steam reviews | 93.8% positive (3,406 reviews) | 65.5% positive (58 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Olli Harjola, Otto Hantula, Tom Jubert, Carlo Castellano | Gatling Goat Studios |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie, Adventure on Steam.
- The Swapper (2013) is 2 years older than Traverser (2015).
- The Swapper scores higher on Steam reviews (93.8% positive) than Traverser (65.5% positive).
- The Swapper is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Traverser has no Deck rating yet.
The Swapper vs Traverser — FAQ
- Should I play The Swapper or Traverser first?
- If you want chronology, The Swapper (2013) came out before Traverser (2015). 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 Swapper and Traverser similar?
- They overlap on Action, Indie, 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.
- Does The Swapper run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — The Swapper is rated Deck Verified by Valve. Traverser doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.