Choose Dark Times
Choose Dark Times if you want the Camera Comfort and Touch Only Option side of the pairing. Dark Times launched in 2025.
Dark Times vs Instruments of Power
Dark Times and Instruments of Power both land in Strategy, Indie 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 Strategy, Indie on Steam. Dark Times (2025) is 1 year older than Instruments of Power (2026). 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 Instruments of Power
Choose Instruments of Power if you want a RPG game with Stereo Sound. Instruments of Power launched in 2026.
Both Dark Times and Instruments of Power sit in Strategy and Indie on Steam and both list Custom Volume Controls, Playable without Timed Input, and Mouse Only Option, 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
 Dark Times |  Instruments of Power | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2025 | 2026 |
| Genres | Strategy, Indie | Strategy, Indie, RPG |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Unrated |
| Price | 3.99 USD | Price unknown |
| Steam reviews | 91.7% positive (12 reviews) | — |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Gromov Studio | Iron Loop Games |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Indie on Steam.
- Dark Times (2025) is 1 year older than Instruments of Power (2026).
Dark Times vs Instruments of Power — FAQ
- Should I play Dark Times or Instruments of Power first?
- If you want chronology, Dark Times (2025) came out before Instruments of Power (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 Dark Times and Instruments of Power similar?
- They overlap on Strategy, Indie 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.