Choose Cryptic Route
Choose Cryptic Route if it matches what drew you to this matchup. Cryptic Route launched in 2024.
Cryptic Route vs The Strange Lights
Cryptic Route and The Strange Lights 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. Cryptic Route (2024) is 2 years older than The Strange Lights (2026). The Strange Lights is currently ~73% cheaper on Steam than Cryptic Route (3.49 USD vs. 12.99 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 The Strange Lights
Choose The Strange Lights if you want a Simulation experience. On Steam, it's currently about 73% cheaper on the Steam Store. The Strange Lights launched in 2026.
Both Cryptic Route and The Strange Lights 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
 Cryptic Route |  The Strange Lights | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2024 | 2026 |
| Genres | Indie, Adventure | Indie, Adventure, Simulation |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Unrated |
| Price | 12.99 USD | 3.49 USD |
| Steam reviews | 2 reviews | 85.2% positive (61 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Callmerat | JustTomcuk |
Side by side
- Both share Indie, Adventure on Steam.
- Cryptic Route (2024) is 2 years older than The Strange Lights (2026).
- The Strange Lights is currently ~73% cheaper on Steam than Cryptic Route (3.49 USD vs. 12.99 USD).
Cryptic Route vs The Strange Lights — FAQ
- Should I play Cryptic Route or The Strange Lights first?
- If you want chronology, Cryptic Route (2024) came out before The Strange Lights (2026). 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 Cryptic Route and The Strange Lights 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.