Choose Octodad (Student Edition)
Choose Octodad (Student Edition) if you want a Free To Play experience. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. Octodad (Student Edition) launched in 2023.
Octodad (Student Edition) vs Hydro Chicks
Octodad (Student Edition) and Hydro Chicks both land in Indie, Adventure, Simulation 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, Simulation on Steam. Octodad (Student Edition) (2023) is 3 years older than Hydro Chicks (2026). Octodad (Student Edition) is free; Hydro Chicks is paid (7.19 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 Hydro Chicks
Choose Hydro Chicks if you want an Action game with Steam Leaderboards, DualShock Controller Support, and Camera Comfort. On Steam, it's the newer release (2026) and ships with the modern feature baseline. Hydro Chicks launched in 2026.
Both Octodad (Student Edition) and Hydro Chicks sit in Indie, Adventure, and Simulation 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
 Octodad (Student Edition) |  Hydro Chicks | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2023 | 2026 |
| Genres | Indie, Adventure, Simulation, Free To Play | Action, Indie, Adventure, Simulation |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Unrated |
| Price | Free to play | 7.19 USD |
| Steam reviews | 92.8% positive (97 reviews) | 2 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Young Horses: Free Range, Young Horses | Glenn Verheij |
Side by side
- Both share Indie, Adventure, Simulation on Steam.
- Octodad (Student Edition) (2023) is 3 years older than Hydro Chicks (2026).
- Octodad (Student Edition) is free; Hydro Chicks is paid (7.19 USD).
Octodad (Student Edition) vs Hydro Chicks — FAQ
- Should I play Octodad (Student Edition) or Hydro Chicks first?
- If you want chronology, Octodad (Student Edition) (2023) came out before Hydro Chicks (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 Octodad (Student Edition) and Hydro Chicks similar?
- They overlap on Indie, Adventure, Simulation 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 Octodad (Student Edition) free?
- Yes — Octodad (Student Edition) is a free-to-play Steam title. Hydro Chicks is paid (7.19 USD).