IMHO.

Papers, Please vs Next Patient

Papers, Please and Next Patient both land in 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 are Indie games on Steam. Papers, Please (2013) is 13 years older than Next Patient (2026). Next Patient is currently ~52% cheaper on Steam than Papers, Please (4.79 USD vs. 9.99 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 Papers, Please

Choose Papers, Please if you want an Adventure game with Steam Leaderboards. On Steam, it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. 38,957 Steam reviews back the pick.

Choose Next Patient

Choose Next Patient if you want a Simulation and Casual game with Adjustable Text Size, Custom Volume Controls, and Playable without Timed Input. On Steam, it's currently about 52% cheaper on the Steam Store. Next Patient launched in 2026.

Both Papers, Please and Next Patient sit in Indie 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

Papers, Please vs Next Patient — Steam metadata comparison
Papers, Please — Steam game coverPapers, PleaseNext Patient — Steam game coverNext Patient
Released20132026
GenresIndie, AdventureIndie, Simulation, Casual
PlatformsWindows, macOS, LinuxWindows, macOS
Steam DeckDeck VerifiedDeck Playable
Price9.99 USD4.79 USD
Steam reviews97.3% positive (38,957 reviews)7 reviews
MultiplayerSingle-player onlySingle-player only
DevelopersLucas PopeMad Turtle Studios

Side by side

Papers, Please vs Next Patient — FAQ

Should I play Papers, Please or Next Patient first?
If you want chronology, Papers, Please (2013) came out before Next Patient (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 Papers, Please and Next Patient similar?
They overlap on 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.