Choose Nova Hearts
Choose Nova Hearts if you want a RPG experience. Nova Hearts launched in 2025.
Nova Hearts vs Nova Hearts: The Spark
Nova Hearts and Nova Hearts: The Spark both land in Strategy, 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 Strategy, Indie on Steam. Nova Hearts: The Spark (2024) is 1 year older than Nova Hearts (2025). Nova Hearts: The Spark scores higher on Steam reviews (72.1% positive) than Nova Hearts (69.4% 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 Nova Hearts: The Spark
Choose Nova Hearts: The Spark if you want a Free To Play game with Gamepad Recommended. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. Nova Hearts: The Spark launched in 2024.
Both Nova Hearts and Nova Hearts: The Spark sit in Strategy and 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
 Nova Hearts |  Nova Hearts: The Spark | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2025 | 2024 |
| Genres | Strategy, Indie, RPG | Strategy, Indie, Free To Play |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Deck Verified |
| Price | 19.99 USD | Free to play |
| Steam reviews | 69.4% positive (49 reviews) | 72.1% positive (43 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Lightbulb Crew | Lightbulb Crew |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Indie on Steam.
- Nova Hearts: The Spark (2024) is 1 year older than Nova Hearts (2025).
- Nova Hearts: The Spark scores higher on Steam reviews (72.1% positive) than Nova Hearts (69.4% positive).
- Nova Hearts: The Spark is free; Nova Hearts is paid (19.99 USD).
- Both are Deck Verified.
Nova Hearts vs Nova Hearts: The Spark — FAQ
- Should I play Nova Hearts or Nova Hearts: The Spark first?
- If you want chronology, Nova Hearts: The Spark (2024) came out before Nova Hearts (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 Nova Hearts and Nova Hearts: The Spark similar?
- They overlap on Strategy, 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 Nova Hearts: The Spark free?
- Yes — Nova Hearts: The Spark is a free-to-play Steam title. Nova Hearts is paid (19.99 USD).
- Do Nova Hearts and Nova Hearts: The Spark both run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — both are Steam Deck Verified, meaning Valve confirms they run with full controller support, legible text, and default settings out of the box.