Choose Subnautica
Choose Subnautica if you want the VR Supported side of the pairing. On Steam, it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. 177,256 Steam reviews back the pick.
Subnautica vs TARO IS BACK
Subnautica and TARO IS BACK both land in 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 Indie, Adventure on Steam. Subnautica (2018) is 8 years older than TARO IS BACK (2026). Subnautica scores higher on Steam reviews (96.9% positive) than TARO IS BACK (83.6% 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 TARO IS BACK
Choose TARO IS BACK if it's currently about 50% cheaper on the Steam Store. TARO IS BACK launched in 2026.
Both Subnautica and TARO IS BACK sit in Indie and Adventure 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
 Subnautica |  TARO IS BACK | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2018 | 2026 |
| Genres | Indie, Adventure | Indie, Adventure |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Unrated |
| Price | 29.99 USD | 15.00 USD |
| Steam reviews | 96.9% positive (177,256 reviews) | 83.6% positive (55 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Unknown Worlds Entertainment | BeforeHomeWorks |
Side by side
- Both share Indie, Adventure on Steam.
- Subnautica (2018) is 8 years older than TARO IS BACK (2026).
- Subnautica scores higher on Steam reviews (96.9% positive) than TARO IS BACK (83.6% positive).
- TARO IS BACK is currently ~50% cheaper on Steam than Subnautica (15.00 USD vs. 29.99 USD).
- Subnautica is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; TARO IS BACK has no Deck rating yet.
Subnautica vs TARO IS BACK — FAQ
- Should I play Subnautica or TARO IS BACK first?
- If you want chronology, Subnautica (2018) came out before TARO IS BACK (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 Subnautica and TARO IS BACK similar?
- They overlap on 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.
- Does Subnautica run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Subnautica is rated Deck Verified by Valve. TARO IS BACK doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.