Choose Forbidden Magic
Choose Forbidden Magic if it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. Forbidden Magic launched in 2023.
Forbidden Magic vs Spellbound: Malachite Coven
Forbidden Magic and Spellbound: Malachite Coven both land in Indie, RPG 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, RPG on Steam. Forbidden Magic (2023) is 2 years older than Spellbound: Malachite Coven (2025). Spellbound: Malachite Coven is currently ~0% cheaper on Steam than Forbidden Magic (4.99 USD vs. 4.99 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 Spellbound: Malachite Coven
Choose Spellbound: Malachite Coven if it matches what drew you to this matchup. Spellbound: Malachite Coven launched in 2025.
Both Forbidden Magic and Spellbound: Malachite Coven sit in Indie and RPG 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
 Forbidden Magic |  Spellbound: Malachite Coven | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2023 | 2025 |
| Genres | Indie, RPG | Indie, RPG |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Unrated |
| Price | 4.99 USD | 4.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 75% positive (12 reviews) | 9 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Heart's Choice | Heart's Choice |
Side by side
- Both share Indie, RPG on Steam.
- Forbidden Magic (2023) is 2 years older than Spellbound: Malachite Coven (2025).
- Spellbound: Malachite Coven is currently ~0% cheaper on Steam than Forbidden Magic (4.99 USD vs. 4.99 USD).
- Forbidden Magic is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Spellbound: Malachite Coven has no Deck rating yet.
Forbidden Magic vs Spellbound: Malachite Coven — FAQ
- Should I play Forbidden Magic or Spellbound: Malachite Coven first?
- If you want chronology, Forbidden Magic (2023) came out before Spellbound: Malachite Coven (2025). 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 Forbidden Magic and Spellbound: Malachite Coven similar?
- They overlap on Indie, RPG 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 Forbidden Magic run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Forbidden Magic is rated Deck Verified by Valve. Spellbound: Malachite Coven doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.