Choose Verve
Choose Verve if you want the Online PvP, Shared/Split Screen PvP, and LAN PvP side of the pairing.
Verve vs SMS Returns
Verve and SMS Returns both land in Action, Indie, Adventure 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, Indie, Adventure on Steam. SMS Returns has co-op; Verve does not. 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 SMS Returns
Choose SMS Returns if you want the Online Co-op, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, and LAN Co-op side of the pairing. On Steam, it has co-op, so you can bring a friend. SMS Returns launched in 2026.
Both Verve and SMS Returns sit in Action, Indie, and Adventure on Steam and both list Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen, and DualShock Controller Support, 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
 Verve |  SMS Returns | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | — | 2026 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Adventure | Action, Indie, Adventure |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Unrated |
| Price | Price unknown | Price unknown |
| Steam reviews | — | — |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Shared/Split Screen Co-op |
| Developers | LiminalLeap Studio LLC | Marc Steene |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie, Adventure on Steam.
- SMS Returns has co-op; Verve does not.
Verve vs SMS Returns — FAQ
- Are Verve and SMS Returns similar?
- They overlap on Action, Indie, Adventure 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.