Choose Contagion
Choose Contagion if you want an Adventure game with Steam Leaderboards, Online Co-op, and Subtitle Options. On Steam, it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. 5,535 Steam reviews back the pick.
Contagion vs ZPlague
Contagion and ZPlague both land in Action, Indie 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 on Steam. Contagion (2013) is 9 years older than ZPlague (2022). ZPlague is free; Contagion is paid (3.99 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 ZPlague
Choose ZPlague if you want a Strategy experience. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. ZPlague launched in 2022.
Both Contagion and ZPlague sit in Action and Indie on Steam and both list Multi-player, Online PvP, and PvP, 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 |  ZPlague | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2013 | 2022 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Adventure | Action, Strategy, Indie |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Deck Playable |
| Price | 3.99 USD | Free to play |
| Steam reviews | 73.2% positive (5,535 reviews) | 4 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op | Multi-player |
| Developers | Monochrome, Inc | Avelar Studios |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie on Steam.
- Contagion (2013) is 9 years older than ZPlague (2022).
- ZPlague is free; Contagion is paid (3.99 USD).
- Contagion has co-op; ZPlague does not.
- Steam Deck: Contagion is Deck Verified, ZPlague is Deck Playable.
Contagion vs ZPlague — FAQ
- Should I play Contagion or ZPlague first?
- If you want chronology, Contagion (2013) came out before ZPlague (2022). 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 ZPlague similar?
- They overlap on Action, Indie 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 ZPlague free?
- Yes — ZPlague is a free-to-play Steam title. Contagion is paid (3.99 USD).