Choose Even the Ocean
Choose Even the Ocean if you want an Action and RPG game with Playable without Timed Input. Even the Ocean launched in 2016.
Even the Ocean vs Anodyne 2: Return to Dust
Even the Ocean and Anodyne 2: Return to Dust 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. Even the Ocean (2016) is 3 years older than Anodyne 2: Return to Dust (2019). Anodyne 2: Return to Dust scores higher on Steam reviews (94.9% positive) than Even the Ocean (87% 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 Anodyne 2: Return to Dust
Choose Anodyne 2: Return to Dust if you want the Color Alternatives and Save Anytime side of the pairing. On Steam, it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 94.9% positive across 611 reviews.
Both Even the Ocean and Anodyne 2: Return to Dust sit in Indie and Adventure on Steam and both list Camera Comfort, Keyboard Only Option, and Adjustable Difficulty, 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
 Even the Ocean |  Anodyne 2: Return to Dust | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2016 | 2019 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Adventure, RPG | Indie, Adventure |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Deck Verified |
| Price | 19.99 USD | 19.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 87% positive (177 reviews) | 94.9% positive (611 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Melos Han-Tani, Marina Kittaka | Melos Han-Tani, Marina Kittaka |
Side by side
- Both share Indie, Adventure on Steam.
- Even the Ocean (2016) is 3 years older than Anodyne 2: Return to Dust (2019).
- Anodyne 2: Return to Dust scores higher on Steam reviews (94.9% positive) than Even the Ocean (87% positive).
- Anodyne 2: Return to Dust is currently ~0% cheaper on Steam than Even the Ocean (19.99 USD vs. 19.99 USD).
- Both are Deck Verified.
Even the Ocean vs Anodyne 2: Return to Dust — FAQ
- Which is better, Even the Ocean or Anodyne 2: Return to Dust?
- On Steam reviews Anodyne 2: Return to Dust scores higher (94.9% positive) than Even the Ocean (87% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, Anodyne 2: Return to Dust is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.
- Should I play Even the Ocean or Anodyne 2: Return to Dust first?
- If you want chronology, Even the Ocean (2016) came out before Anodyne 2: Return to Dust (2019). 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 Even the Ocean and Anodyne 2: Return to Dust 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.
- Do Even the Ocean and Anodyne 2: Return to Dust 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.