Choose El Virus
Choose El Virus if it matches what drew you to this matchup. El Virus launched in 2024.
El Virus vs Whalefall
El Virus and Whalefall both land in Action, 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 Action, Indie, Adventure on Steam. El Virus (2024) is 2 years older than Whalefall (2026). Whalefall is free; El Virus is paid (1.99 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 Whalefall
Choose Whalefall if you want a Free To Play experience. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. Whalefall launched in 2026.
Both El Virus and Whalefall sit in Action, 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
 El Virus |  Whalefall | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2024 | 2026 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Adventure | Action, Indie, Adventure, Free To Play |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Unrated |
| Price | 1.99 USD | Free to play |
| Steam reviews | — | 80% positive (10 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Byakko Studios | Matriarch Games |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie, Adventure on Steam.
- El Virus (2024) is 2 years older than Whalefall (2026).
- Whalefall is free; El Virus is paid (1.99 USD).
El Virus vs Whalefall — FAQ
- Should I play El Virus or Whalefall first?
- If you want chronology, El Virus (2024) came out before Whalefall (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 El Virus and Whalefall similar?
- They overlap on Action, 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.
- Is Whalefall free?
- Yes — Whalefall is a free-to-play Steam title. El Virus is paid (1.99 USD).