Choose Ex Libris
Choose Ex Libris if you want a Free To Play experience. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. Ex Libris launched in 2026.
Ex Libris vs Shadow City Mysteries: Case Files - Rise of the Rat King
Ex Libris and Shadow City Mysteries: Case Files - Rise of the Rat King both land in Adventure, RPG 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 Adventure, RPG on Steam. Ex Libris is free; Shadow City Mysteries: Case Files - Rise of the Rat King is paid (Price unknown). 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 Shadow City Mysteries: Case Files - Rise of the Rat King
Choose Shadow City Mysteries: Case Files - Rise of the Rat King if you want an Indie and Casual experience.
Both Ex Libris and Shadow City Mysteries: Case Files - Rise of the Rat King sit in Adventure and RPG 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
 Ex Libris |  Shadow City Mysteries: Case Files - Rise of the Rat King | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2026 | — |
| Genres | Adventure, RPG, Free To Play | Indie, Adventure, RPG, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Unrated |
| Price | Free to play | Price unknown |
| Steam reviews | 7 reviews | — |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Inpatient Interactive | Play On Words Studios |
Side by side
- Both share Adventure, RPG on Steam.
- Ex Libris is free; Shadow City Mysteries: Case Files - Rise of the Rat King is paid (Price unknown).
Ex Libris vs Shadow City Mysteries: Case Files - Rise of the Rat King — FAQ
- Are Ex Libris and Shadow City Mysteries: Case Files - Rise of the Rat King similar?
- They overlap on Adventure, RPG 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.
- Is Ex Libris free?
- Yes — Ex Libris is a free-to-play Steam title. Shadow City Mysteries: Case Files - Rise of the Rat King is paid (Price unknown).