IMHO.

Only Way is Down vs Circus Challenge

Only Way is Down and Circus Challenge both land in Indie, Adventure, 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, Adventure, Casual on Steam. Circus Challenge (2024) is 1 year older than Only Way is Down (2025). Circus Challenge is currently ~90% cheaper on Steam than Only Way is Down (0.99 USD vs. 9.99 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 Only Way is Down

Choose Only Way is Down if you want an Action and Simulation game with Camera Comfort, Custom Volume Controls, and Stereo Sound. On Steam, it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. Only Way is Down launched in 2025.

Choose Circus Challenge

Choose Circus Challenge if it's currently about 90% cheaper on the Steam Store. Circus Challenge launched in 2024.

Both Only Way is Down and Circus Challenge sit in Indie, Adventure, and Casual on Steam and both list Steam Leaderboards, 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

Only Way is Down vs Circus Challenge — Steam metadata comparison
Only Way is Down — Steam game coverOnly Way is DownCircus Challenge — Steam game coverCircus Challenge
Released20252024
GenresAction, Indie, Adventure, Simulation, CasualIndie, Adventure, Casual
PlatformsWindowsWindows
Steam DeckDeck VerifiedUnrated
Price9.99 USD0.99 USD
Steam reviews53.8% positive (39 reviews)2 reviews
MultiplayerSingle-player onlySingle-player only
DevelopersJilted Generation ProductionsAngel Torres

Side by side

Only Way is Down vs Circus Challenge — FAQ

Should I play Only Way is Down or Circus Challenge first?
If you want chronology, Circus Challenge (2024) came out before Only Way is Down (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 Only Way is Down and Circus Challenge similar?
They overlap on Indie, Adventure, 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 Only Way is Down run on Steam Deck?
Yes — Only Way is Down is rated Deck Verified by Valve. Circus Challenge doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.
Only Way is Down vs Circus Challenge — Verdict (2026) · imho.run