Choose SOMA
Choose SOMA if you want an Action experience. On Steam, it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 95.8% positive across 23,563 reviews.
SOMA vs Observer: System Redux
SOMA and Observer: System Redux both land in Indie, 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 share Indie, Adventure on Steam. SOMA (2015) is 5 years older than Observer: System Redux (2020). SOMA scores higher on Steam reviews (95.8% positive) than Observer: System Redux (83.5% 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 Observer: System Redux
Choose Observer: System Redux if it's the newer release (2020) and ships with the modern feature baseline. 1,199 Steam reviews back the pick.
Both SOMA and Observer: System Redux sit in Indie and 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
 SOMA |  Observer: System Redux | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2015 | 2020 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Adventure | Indie, Adventure |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Deck Verified |
| Price | 29.99 USD | 29.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 95.8% positive (23,563 reviews) | 83.5% positive (1,199 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Frictional Games | Bloober Team, Anshar Studios |
Side by side
- Both share Indie, Adventure on Steam.
- SOMA (2015) is 5 years older than Observer: System Redux (2020).
- SOMA scores higher on Steam reviews (95.8% positive) than Observer: System Redux (83.5% positive).
- Observer: System Redux is currently ~0% cheaper on Steam than SOMA (29.99 USD vs. 29.99 USD).
- Both are Deck Verified.
SOMA vs Observer: System Redux — FAQ
- Which is better, SOMA or Observer: System Redux?
- On Steam reviews SOMA scores higher (95.8% positive) than Observer: System Redux (83.5% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, SOMA is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.
- Should I play SOMA or Observer: System Redux first?
- If you want chronology, SOMA (2015) came out before Observer: System Redux (2020). 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 SOMA and Observer: System Redux similar?
- They overlap on Indie, 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.
- Do SOMA and Observer: System Redux both run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — both are Steam Deck Verified, meaning Valve confirms they run with full controller support, legible text, and default settings out of the box.