Choose RIVE
Choose RIVE if you want the Steam Leaderboards side of the pairing. RIVE launched in 2016.
RIVE vs ASCENXION
RIVE and ASCENXION both land in Action 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 Action games on Steam. RIVE (2016) is 5 years older than ASCENXION (2021). RIVE scores higher on Steam reviews (81.5% positive) than ASCENXION (60% 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 ASCENXION
Choose ASCENXION if you want an Indie and Adventure experience. On Steam, it's currently about 33% cheaper on the Steam Store. ASCENXION launched in 2021.
Both RIVE and ASCENXION sit in Action 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
 RIVE |  ASCENXION | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2016 | 2021 |
| Genres | Action | Action, Indie, Adventure |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | 14.99 USD | 9.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 81.5% positive (200 reviews) | 60% positive (10 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Two Tribes | IndigoBlue Game Studio |
Side by side
- Both are Action games on Steam.
- RIVE (2016) is 5 years older than ASCENXION (2021).
- RIVE scores higher on Steam reviews (81.5% positive) than ASCENXION (60% positive).
- ASCENXION is currently ~33% cheaper on Steam than RIVE (9.99 USD vs. 14.99 USD).
- RIVE is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; ASCENXION has no Deck rating yet.
RIVE vs ASCENXION — FAQ
- Should I play RIVE or ASCENXION first?
- If you want chronology, RIVE (2016) came out before ASCENXION (2021). 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 RIVE and ASCENXION similar?
- They overlap on Action 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 RIVE run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — RIVE is rated Deck Playable by Valve. ASCENXION doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.