Choose Hexcells
Choose Hexcells if it matches what drew you to this matchup. 2,917 Steam reviews back the pick.
Hexcells vs 49 Squares
Hexcells and 49 Squares both land in Strategy, Indie, Casual 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 Strategy, Indie, Casual on Steam. Hexcells (2014) is 9 years older than 49 Squares (2023). 49 Squares is currently ~0% cheaper on Steam than Hexcells (2.99 USD vs. 2.99 USD). 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 49 Squares
Choose 49 Squares if it's the newer release (2023) and ships with the modern feature baseline. 49 Squares launched in 2023.
Both Hexcells and 49 Squares sit in Strategy, Indie, and Casual 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
 Hexcells |  49 Squares | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2014 | 2023 |
| Genres | Strategy, Indie, Casual | Strategy, Indie, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | 2.99 USD | 2.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 96.7% positive (2,917 reviews) | 2 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Matthew Brown | Jim Bame |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Indie, Casual on Steam.
- Hexcells (2014) is 9 years older than 49 Squares (2023).
- 49 Squares is currently ~0% cheaper on Steam than Hexcells (2.99 USD vs. 2.99 USD).
- Hexcells is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; 49 Squares has no Deck rating yet.
Hexcells vs 49 Squares — FAQ
- Should I play Hexcells or 49 Squares first?
- If you want chronology, Hexcells (2014) came out before 49 Squares (2023). 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 Hexcells and 49 Squares similar?
- They overlap on Strategy, Indie, Casual 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 Hexcells run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Hexcells is rated Deck Playable by Valve. 49 Squares doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.