Choose Mini Metro
Choose Mini Metro if you want a Strategy and Simulation game with Steam Leaderboards. On Steam, it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. 6,926 Steam reviews back the pick.
Mini Metro vs Express Thru
Mini Metro and Express Thru both land in Indie 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 Indie games on Steam. Mini Metro (2015) is 5 years older than Express Thru (2020). Express Thru is currently ~57% cheaper on Steam than Mini Metro (2.99 USD vs. 6.99 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 Express Thru
Choose Express Thru if it's currently about 57% cheaper on the Steam Store. Express Thru launched in 2020.
Both Mini Metro and Express Thru sit in Indie 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
 Mini Metro |  Express Thru | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2015 | 2020 |
| Genres | Strategy, Indie, Simulation | Indie |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Unrated |
| Price | 6.99 USD | 2.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 95.8% positive (6,926 reviews) | 4 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Dinosaur Polo Club | 5minlab Corp., Kyeongwoo Lim |
Side by side
- Both are Indie games on Steam.
- Mini Metro (2015) is 5 years older than Express Thru (2020).
- Express Thru is currently ~57% cheaper on Steam than Mini Metro (2.99 USD vs. 6.99 USD).
- Mini Metro is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Express Thru has no Deck rating yet.
Mini Metro vs Express Thru — FAQ
- Should I play Mini Metro or Express Thru first?
- If you want chronology, Mini Metro (2015) came out before Express Thru (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 Mini Metro and Express Thru similar?
- They overlap on Indie 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 Mini Metro run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Mini Metro is rated Deck Verified by Valve. Express Thru doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.