Choose CRYPTARK
Choose CRYPTARK if you want the Steam Leaderboards, Shared/Split Screen PvP, and PvP side of the pairing. On Steam, it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. CRYPTARK launched in 2017.
CRYPTARK vs Final Directive
CRYPTARK and Final Directive both land in Action, 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 Action, Strategy, Indie on Steam. CRYPTARK (2017) is 1 year older than Final Directive (2018). Final Directive scores higher on Steam reviews (86.3% positive) than CRYPTARK (83% 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 Final Directive
Choose Final Directive if you want the Shared/Split Screen side of the pairing. On Steam, it's currently about 87% cheaper on the Steam Store. Final Directive launched in 2018.
Both CRYPTARK and Final Directive sit in Action, Strategy, and Indie on Steam and both list Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, and Co-op, 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
 CRYPTARK |  Final Directive | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2017 | 2018 |
| Genres | Action, Strategy, Indie, Adventure | Action, Strategy, Indie, Adventure |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Unrated |
| Price | 14.99 USD | 1.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 83% positive (729 reviews) | 86.3% positive (73 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op | Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | Alientrap | Lazy Monday Games |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Strategy, Indie on Steam.
- CRYPTARK (2017) is 1 year older than Final Directive (2018).
- Final Directive scores higher on Steam reviews (86.3% positive) than CRYPTARK (83% positive).
- Final Directive is currently ~87% cheaper on Steam than CRYPTARK (1.99 USD vs. 14.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
- CRYPTARK is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Final Directive has no Deck rating yet.
CRYPTARK vs Final Directive — FAQ
- Should I play CRYPTARK or Final Directive first?
- If you want chronology, CRYPTARK (2017) came out before Final Directive (2018). 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 CRYPTARK and Final Directive similar?
- They overlap on Action, 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.
- Do both CRYPTARK and Final Directive have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: CRYPTARK ships Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op; Final Directive ships Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op.
- Does CRYPTARK run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — CRYPTARK is rated Deck Verified by Valve. Final Directive doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.