Choose Zero-Sum Heart
Choose Zero-Sum Heart if you want an Indie, Adventure, and Simulation experience. On Steam, it's currently about 90% cheaper on the Steam Store. Zero-Sum Heart launched in 2024.
Zero-Sum Heart vs 纸上的魔法使
Zero-Sum Heart and 纸上的魔法使 both land in RPG, 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 RPG, Casual on Steam. Zero-Sum Heart (2024) is 2 years older than 纸上的魔法使 (2026). Zero-Sum Heart is currently ~90% cheaper on Steam than 纸上的魔法使 (2.99 USD vs. 29.99 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 纸上的魔法使
Choose 纸上的魔法使 if you want the Custom Volume Controls, Playable without Timed Input, and Mouse Only Option side of the pairing. 纸上的魔法使 launched in 2026.
Both Zero-Sum Heart and 纸上的魔法使 sit in RPG and Casual 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
 Zero-Sum Heart |  纸上的魔法使 | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2024 | 2026 |
| Genres | Indie, Adventure, Simulation, RPG, Casual | RPG, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Deck Unsupported |
| Price | 2.99 USD | 29.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 100% positive (21 reviews) | 1 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Citreat Studio | UGUISUKAGURA |
Side by side
- Both share RPG, Casual on Steam.
- Zero-Sum Heart (2024) is 2 years older than 纸上的魔法使 (2026).
- Zero-Sum Heart is currently ~90% cheaper on Steam than 纸上的魔法使 (2.99 USD vs. 29.99 USD).
- 纸上的魔法使 is Deck Unsupported on Steam Deck; Zero-Sum Heart has no Deck rating yet.
Zero-Sum Heart vs 纸上的魔法使 — FAQ
- Should I play Zero-Sum Heart or 纸上的魔法使 first?
- If you want chronology, Zero-Sum Heart (2024) came out before 纸上的魔法使 (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 Zero-Sum Heart and 纸上的魔法使 similar?
- They overlap on RPG, 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.