Choose Contagion
Choose Contagion if you want the Multi-player, Steam Leaderboards, and Online PvP side of the pairing. On Steam, it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. 5,535 Steam reviews back the pick.
Contagion vs Z Arena
Contagion and Z Arena 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. Contagion (2013) is 11 years older than Z Arena (2024). Z Arena scores higher on Steam reviews (85.7% positive) than Contagion (73.2% 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 Z Arena
Choose Z Arena if you want a Free To Play experience. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. Z Arena launched in 2024.
Both Contagion and Z Arena 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
 Contagion |  Z Arena | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2013 | 2024 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Adventure | Action, Indie, Adventure, Free To Play |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Unrated |
| Price | 3.99 USD | Free to play |
| Steam reviews | 73.2% positive (5,535 reviews) | 85.7% positive (14 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op | Single-player only |
| Developers | Monochrome, Inc | Basem Alasmar |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie, Adventure on Steam.
- Contagion (2013) is 11 years older than Z Arena (2024).
- Z Arena scores higher on Steam reviews (85.7% positive) than Contagion (73.2% positive).
- Z Arena is free; Contagion is paid (3.99 USD).
- Contagion has co-op; Z Arena does not.
- Contagion is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Z Arena has no Deck rating yet.
Contagion vs Z Arena — FAQ
- Should I play Contagion or Z Arena first?
- If you want chronology, Contagion (2013) came out before Z Arena (2024). 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 Contagion and Z Arena 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 Z Arena have multiplayer like Contagion?
- No. Contagion supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op), while Z Arena is listed as single-player only.
- Is Z Arena free?
- Yes — Z Arena is a free-to-play Steam title. Contagion is paid (3.99 USD).
- Does Contagion run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Contagion is rated Deck Verified by Valve. Z Arena doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.