Choose Shinjuku Hearts
Choose Shinjuku Hearts if it's currently about 50% cheaper on the Steam Store. Shinjuku Hearts launched in 2023.
Shinjuku Hearts vs Exploring the Big Apple
Shinjuku Hearts and Exploring the Big Apple both land in Indie, Casual 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, Casual on Steam. Shinjuku Hearts (2023) is 2 years older than Exploring the Big Apple (2025). Shinjuku Hearts scores higher on Steam reviews (100% positive) than Exploring the Big Apple (73.6% 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 Exploring the Big Apple
Choose Exploring the Big Apple if you want an Action and Adventure game with Custom Volume Controls, Playable without Timed Input, and Save Anytime. Exploring the Big Apple launched in 2025.
Both Shinjuku Hearts and Exploring the Big Apple sit in Indie and Casual 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
 Shinjuku Hearts |  Exploring the Big Apple | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2023 | 2025 |
| Genres | Indie, Casual | Action, Indie, Adventure, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Deck Playable |
| Price | 4.99 USD | 9.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 100% positive (14 reviews) | 73.6% positive (87 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Koi Spirit | SadPepper |
Side by side
- Both share Indie, Casual on Steam.
- Shinjuku Hearts (2023) is 2 years older than Exploring the Big Apple (2025).
- Shinjuku Hearts scores higher on Steam reviews (100% positive) than Exploring the Big Apple (73.6% positive).
- Shinjuku Hearts is currently ~50% cheaper on Steam than Exploring the Big Apple (4.99 USD vs. 9.99 USD).
- Exploring the Big Apple is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; Shinjuku Hearts has no Deck rating yet.
Shinjuku Hearts vs Exploring the Big Apple — FAQ
- Should I play Shinjuku Hearts or Exploring the Big Apple first?
- If you want chronology, Shinjuku Hearts (2023) came out before Exploring the Big Apple (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 Shinjuku Hearts and Exploring the Big Apple similar?
- They overlap on Indie, Casual 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.