Choose FOTONICA
Choose FOTONICA if you want an Action game with Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen, and Shared/Split Screen PvP. FOTONICA launched in 2014.
FOTONICA vs Alpha Runner
FOTONICA and Alpha Runner both land in 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 are Indie games on Steam. FOTONICA (2014) is 1 year older than Alpha Runner (2015). FOTONICA scores higher on Steam reviews (89.2% positive) than Alpha Runner (78.1% 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 Alpha Runner
Choose Alpha Runner if you want an Adventure and Casual experience. On Steam, it's currently about 93% cheaper on the Steam Store. Alpha Runner launched in 2015.
Both FOTONICA and Alpha Runner sit in Indie on Steam and both list Steam Leaderboards, 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
 FOTONICA |  Alpha Runner | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2014 | 2015 |
| Genres | Action, Indie | Indie, Adventure, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Deck Verified |
| Price | 14.99 USD | 0.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 89.2% positive (315 reviews) | 78.1% positive (64 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player | Single-player only |
| Developers | Santa Ragione | LightsoutGames |
Side by side
- Both are Indie games on Steam.
- FOTONICA (2014) is 1 year older than Alpha Runner (2015).
- FOTONICA scores higher on Steam reviews (89.2% positive) than Alpha Runner (78.1% positive).
- Alpha Runner is currently ~93% cheaper on Steam than FOTONICA (0.99 USD vs. 14.99 USD).
- Steam Deck: FOTONICA is Deck Playable, Alpha Runner is Deck Verified.
FOTONICA vs Alpha Runner — FAQ
- Should I play FOTONICA or Alpha Runner first?
- If you want chronology, FOTONICA (2014) came out before Alpha Runner (2015). 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 FOTONICA and Alpha Runner similar?
- They overlap on 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.
- Does Alpha Runner have multiplayer like FOTONICA?
- No. FOTONICA supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player), while Alpha Runner is listed as single-player only.