Choose POOLS
Choose POOLS if you want the Tracked Controller Support, VR Supported, and Surround Sound side of the pairing. On Steam, it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. 3,169 Steam reviews back the pick.
POOLS vs Backrooms: The M.E.G.
POOLS and Backrooms: The M.E.G. 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 is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Backrooms: The M.E.G. has no Deck rating yet. 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 Backrooms: The M.E.G.
Choose Backrooms: The M.E.G. if you want an Indie, Simulation, and Casual game with Custom Volume Controls.
Both POOLS and Backrooms: The M.E.G. sit in Adventure on Steam and both list Camera Comfort, Stereo Sound, and Playable without Timed Input, 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 |  Backrooms: The M.E.G. | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2024 | — |
| Genres | Adventure | Indie, Adventure, Simulation, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Unrated |
| Price | 9.79 USD | Price unknown |
| Steam reviews | 95.6% positive (3,169 reviews) | — |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Tensori | Nightflow Studio |
Side by side
- Both are Adventure games on Steam.
- POOLS is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Backrooms: The M.E.G. has no Deck rating yet.
POOLS vs Backrooms: The M.E.G. — FAQ
- Are POOLS and Backrooms: The M.E.G. 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.
- Does POOLS run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — POOLS is rated Deck Verified by Valve. Backrooms: The M.E.G. doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.