IMHO.

Life is Strange - Episode 1 vs Life is Strange: Before the Storm

Life is Strange - Episode 1 and Life is Strange: Before the Storm both land in Action, 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, Adventure on Steam. Life is Strange - Episode 1 (2015) is 2 years older than Life is Strange: Before the Storm (2017). Life is Strange - Episode 1 scores higher on Steam reviews (95.4% positive) than Life is Strange: Before the Storm (92.6% positive). 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 Life is Strange - Episode 1

Choose Life is Strange - Episode 1 if it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 95.4% positive across 75,553 reviews.

Choose Life is Strange: Before the Storm

Choose Life is Strange: Before the Storm if it matches what drew you to this matchup. 13,006 Steam reviews back the pick.

Both Life is Strange - Episode 1 and Life is Strange: Before the Storm sit in Action and Adventure on Steam and both list Subtitle Options, Custom Volume Controls, and Stereo Sound, 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

Life is Strange - Episode 1 vs Life is Strange: Before the Storm — Steam metadata comparison
Life is Strange - Episode 1 — Steam game coverLife is Strange - Episode 1Life is Strange: Before the Storm — Steam game coverLife is Strange: Before the Storm
Released20152017
GenresAction, AdventureAction, Adventure
PlatformsWindows, macOS, LinuxWindows, macOS, Linux
Steam DeckDeck PlayableDeck Playable
PriceFree to play16.99 USD
Steam reviews95.4% positive (75,553 reviews)92.6% positive (13,006 reviews)
MultiplayerSingle-player onlySingle-player only
DevelopersDONTNOD Entertainment, Feral Interactive (Mac), Feral Interactive (Linux)Deck Nine, Feral Interactive (Mac), Feral Interactive (Linux)

Side by side

Life is Strange - Episode 1 vs Life is Strange: Before the Storm — FAQ

Which is better, Life is Strange - Episode 1 or Life is Strange: Before the Storm?
On Steam reviews Life is Strange - Episode 1 scores higher (95.4% positive) than Life is Strange: Before the Storm (92.6% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, Life is Strange - Episode 1 is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.
Should I play Life is Strange - Episode 1 or Life is Strange: Before the Storm first?
If you want chronology, Life is Strange - Episode 1 (2015) came out before Life is Strange: Before the Storm (2017). 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 Life is Strange - Episode 1 and Life is Strange: Before the Storm similar?
They overlap on Action, 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 Life is Strange - Episode 1 free?
Yes — Life is Strange - Episode 1 is a free-to-play Steam title. Life is Strange: Before the Storm is paid (16.99 USD).
Life is Strange - Episode 1 vs Life is Strange: Before the Storm · imho.run