Choose POOLS
Choose POOLS if you want the Tracked Controller Support, VR Supported, and Camera Comfort side of the pairing. On Steam, it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 95.6% positive across 3,169 reviews.
POOLS vs LIMINAL SHIFT
POOLS and LIMINAL SHIFT both land in 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 are Adventure games on Steam. POOLS (2024) is 1 year older than LIMINAL SHIFT (2025). POOLS scores higher on Steam reviews (95.6% positive) than LIMINAL SHIFT (85.2% 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 LIMINAL SHIFT
Choose LIMINAL SHIFT if you want an Indie, Simulation, and Casual experience. LIMINAL SHIFT launched in 2025.
Both POOLS and LIMINAL SHIFT sit in 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
 POOLS |  LIMINAL SHIFT | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2024 | 2025 |
| Genres | Adventure | Indie, Adventure, Simulation, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Deck Playable |
| Price | 9.79 USD | 9.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 95.6% positive (3,169 reviews) | 85.2% positive (122 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Tensori | NextPhase Studios |
Side by side
- Both are Adventure games on Steam.
- POOLS (2024) is 1 year older than LIMINAL SHIFT (2025).
- POOLS scores higher on Steam reviews (95.6% positive) than LIMINAL SHIFT (85.2% positive).
- POOLS is currently ~2% cheaper on Steam than LIMINAL SHIFT (9.79 USD vs. 9.99 USD).
- Steam Deck: POOLS is Deck Verified, LIMINAL SHIFT is Deck Playable.
POOLS vs LIMINAL SHIFT — FAQ
- Which is better, POOLS or LIMINAL SHIFT?
- On Steam reviews POOLS scores higher (95.6% positive) than LIMINAL SHIFT (85.2% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, POOLS is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.
- Should I play POOLS or LIMINAL SHIFT first?
- If you want chronology, POOLS (2024) came out before LIMINAL SHIFT (2025). 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 POOLS and LIMINAL SHIFT similar?
- They overlap on 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.