Choose Underlevel
Choose Underlevel if it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. Underlevel launched in 2023.
Underlevel vs Arena of the Forge
Underlevel and Arena of the Forge both land in Action 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 Action games on Steam. Underlevel (2023) is 3 years older than Arena of the Forge (2026). Underlevel is free; Arena of the Forge is paid (Price unknown). 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 Arena of the Forge
Choose Arena of the Forge if you want an Adventure and Casual game with Steam Leaderboards, Color Alternatives, and Custom Volume Controls. On Steam, it's the newer release (2026) and ships with the modern feature baseline. Arena of the Forge launched in 2026.
Both Underlevel and Arena of the Forge sit in Action 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
 Underlevel |  Arena of the Forge | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2023 | 2026 |
| Genres | Action | Action, Adventure, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | Free to play | Price unknown |
| Steam reviews | 92% positive (162 reviews) | — |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Stepford, Andyland, milkypossum | SHIGH Games |
Side by side
- Both are Action games on Steam.
- Underlevel (2023) is 3 years older than Arena of the Forge (2026).
- Underlevel is free; Arena of the Forge is paid (Price unknown).
- Underlevel is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; Arena of the Forge has no Deck rating yet.
Underlevel vs Arena of the Forge — FAQ
- Should I play Underlevel or Arena of the Forge first?
- If you want chronology, Underlevel (2023) came out before Arena of the Forge (2026). 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 Underlevel and Arena of the Forge similar?
- They overlap on Action 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 Underlevel free?
- Yes — Underlevel is a free-to-play Steam title. Arena of the Forge is paid (Price unknown).
- Does Underlevel run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Underlevel is rated Deck Playable by Valve. Arena of the Forge doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.