Choose The Beginner's Guide
Choose The Beginner's Guide if it matches what drew you to this matchup. 15,195 Steam reviews back the pick.
The Beginner's Guide vs The Simplest Game in the World
The Beginner's Guide and The Simplest Game in the World 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. The Beginner's Guide (2015) is 8 years older than The Simplest Game in the World (2023). The Simplest Game in the World is currently ~70% cheaper on Steam than The Beginner's Guide (2.99 USD vs. 9.99 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 Simplest Game in the World
Choose The Simplest Game in the World if you want a Simulation and Casual experience. On Steam, it's currently about 70% cheaper on the Steam Store. The Simplest Game in the World launched in 2023.
Both The Beginner's Guide and The Simplest Game in the World 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
 The Beginner's Guide |  The Simplest Game in the World | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2015 | 2023 |
| Genres | Indie, Adventure | Indie, Adventure, Simulation, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | 9.99 USD | 2.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 88.3% positive (15,195 reviews) | 3 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Everything Unlimited Ltd. | Ke Zhou, 刻舟 |
Side by side
- Both share Indie, Adventure on Steam.
- The Beginner's Guide (2015) is 8 years older than The Simplest Game in the World (2023).
- The Simplest Game in the World is currently ~70% cheaper on Steam than The Beginner's Guide (2.99 USD vs. 9.99 USD).
- The Beginner's Guide is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; The Simplest Game in the World has no Deck rating yet.
The Beginner's Guide vs The Simplest Game in the World — FAQ
- Should I play The Beginner's Guide or The Simplest Game in the World first?
- If you want chronology, The Beginner's Guide (2015) came out before The Simplest Game in the World (2023). 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 The Beginner's Guide and The Simplest Game in the World 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.
- Does The Beginner's Guide run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — The Beginner's Guide is rated Deck Playable by Valve. The Simplest Game in the World doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.