Anodyne vs Anodyne 2: Return to Dust
Anodyne and Anodyne 2: Return to Dust both land in 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 Indie, Adventure on Steam. Anodyne (2013) is 6 years older than Anodyne 2: Return to Dust (2019). Anodyne 2: Return to Dust scores higher on Steam reviews (94.9% positive) than Anodyne (86.7% positive). No login or purchase needed — scroll for the full table, the verdict FAQ, and links to ranked similar games for both titles.
Side-by-side comparison
 Anodyne |  Anodyne 2: Return to Dust | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2013 | 2019 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Adventure, Casual | Indie, Adventure |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Deck Verified |
| Price | 14.99 USD | 19.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 86.7% positive (806 reviews) | 94.9% positive (611 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Melos Han-Tani, Marina Kittaka | Melos Han-Tani, Marina Kittaka |
Side by side
- Both share Indie, Adventure on Steam.
- Anodyne (2013) is 6 years older than Anodyne 2: Return to Dust (2019).
- Anodyne 2: Return to Dust scores higher on Steam reviews (94.9% positive) than Anodyne (86.7% positive).
- Anodyne is currently ~25% cheaper on Steam than Anodyne 2: Return to Dust (14.99 USD vs. 19.99 USD).
- Both are Deck Verified.
Anodyne vs Anodyne 2: Return to Dust — FAQ
- Which is better, Anodyne or Anodyne 2: Return to Dust?
- On Steam reviews Anodyne 2: Return to Dust scores higher (94.9% positive) than Anodyne (86.7% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, Anodyne 2: Return to Dust is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.
- Should I play Anodyne or Anodyne 2: Return to Dust first?
- If you want chronology, Anodyne (2013) came out before Anodyne 2: Return to Dust (2019). 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 Anodyne and Anodyne 2: Return to Dust similar?
- They overlap on 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.
- Do Anodyne and Anodyne 2: Return to Dust both run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — both are Steam Deck Verified, meaning Valve confirms they run with full controller support, legible text, and default settings out of the box.