Choose Dagger Directive
Choose Dagger Directive if it matches what drew you to this matchup. Dagger Directive launched in 2025.
Dagger Directive vs Operation Athena
Dagger Directive and Operation Athena both land in Action, Early Access 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, Early Access on Steam. Operation Athena (2024) is 1 year older than Dagger Directive (2025). Dagger Directive scores higher on Steam reviews (85.5% positive) than Operation Athena (73.3% 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 Operation Athena
Choose Operation Athena if you want a Simulation experience. On Steam, it's currently about 50% cheaper on the Steam Store. Operation Athena launched in 2024.
Both Dagger Directive and Operation Athena sit in Action and Early Access on Steam and both list Multi-player, Online Co-op, and Co-op, 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
 Dagger Directive |  Operation Athena | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2025 | 2024 |
| Genres | Action, Early Access | Action, Simulation, Early Access |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | 19.99 USD | 9.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 85.5% positive (441 reviews) | 73.3% positive (30 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | Arcane Alpacas LLC | MISSING GAME STUDIO, LTD., GRENARC LLC |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Early Access on Steam.
- Operation Athena (2024) is 1 year older than Dagger Directive (2025).
- Dagger Directive scores higher on Steam reviews (85.5% positive) than Operation Athena (73.3% positive).
- Operation Athena is currently ~50% cheaper on Steam than Dagger Directive (9.99 USD vs. 19.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
- Dagger Directive is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; Operation Athena has no Deck rating yet.
Dagger Directive vs Operation Athena — FAQ
- Should I play Dagger Directive or Operation Athena first?
- If you want chronology, Operation Athena (2024) came out before Dagger Directive (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 Dagger Directive and Operation Athena similar?
- They overlap on Action, Early Access 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.
- Do both Dagger Directive and Operation Athena have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: Dagger Directive ships Online Co-op, Co-op; Operation Athena ships Online Co-op, Co-op.
- Does Dagger Directive run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Dagger Directive is rated Deck Playable by Valve. Operation Athena doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.