Choose Braid
Choose Braid if you want a Strategy experience. On Steam, it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. 3,460 Steam reviews back the pick.
Braid vs Runes of Avalon - Path of Magic
Braid and Runes of Avalon - Path of Magic both land in 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 Indie, Casual on Steam. Braid (2009) is 8 years older than Runes of Avalon - Path of Magic (2017). Runes of Avalon - Path of Magic is currently ~40% cheaper on Steam than Braid (8.99 USD vs. 14.99 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 Runes of Avalon - Path of Magic
Choose Runes of Avalon - Path of Magic if it's currently about 40% cheaper on the Steam Store. Runes of Avalon - Path of Magic launched in 2017.
Both Braid and Runes of Avalon - Path of Magic sit in 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
 Braid |  Runes of Avalon - Path of Magic | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2009 | 2017 |
| Genres | Strategy, Indie, Casual | Indie, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Unrated |
| Price | 14.99 USD | 8.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 91% positive (3,460 reviews) | 2 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Number None | AnaWiki Games |
Side by side
- Both share Indie, Casual on Steam.
- Braid (2009) is 8 years older than Runes of Avalon - Path of Magic (2017).
- Runes of Avalon - Path of Magic is currently ~40% cheaper on Steam than Braid (8.99 USD vs. 14.99 USD).
- Braid is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Runes of Avalon - Path of Magic has no Deck rating yet.
Braid vs Runes of Avalon - Path of Magic — FAQ
- Should I play Braid or Runes of Avalon - Path of Magic first?
- If you want chronology, Braid (2009) came out before Runes of Avalon - Path of Magic (2017). 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 Braid and Runes of Avalon - Path of Magic similar?
- They overlap on 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 Braid run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Braid is rated Deck Verified by Valve. Runes of Avalon - Path of Magic doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.