The Bug Butcher vs Vector Strain
The Bug Butcher and Vector Strain both land in Action, 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, Indie on Steam. Vector Strain (2015) is 1 year older than The Bug Butcher (2016). The Bug Butcher scores higher on Steam reviews (89.8% positive) than Vector Strain (62.5% positive). No login or purchase needed — scroll for the full table, the verdict FAQ, and links to ranked similar games for both titles.
Side-by-side comparison
 The Bug Butcher |  Vector Strain | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2016 | 2015 |
| Genres | Action, Indie | Action, Indie |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | 7.99 USD | 4.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 89.8% positive (333 reviews) | 62.5% positive (16 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op | Multi-player |
| Developers | Awfully Nice Studios | OMNIDREAM CREATIONS |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie on Steam.
- Vector Strain (2015) is 1 year older than The Bug Butcher (2016).
- The Bug Butcher scores higher on Steam reviews (89.8% positive) than Vector Strain (62.5% positive).
- Vector Strain is currently ~38% cheaper on Steam than The Bug Butcher (4.99 USD vs. 7.99 USD).
- The Bug Butcher has co-op; Vector Strain does not.
- The Bug Butcher is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; Vector Strain has no Deck rating yet.
The Bug Butcher vs Vector Strain — FAQ
- Should I play The Bug Butcher or Vector Strain first?
- If you want chronology, Vector Strain (2015) came out before The Bug Butcher (2016). 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 Bug Butcher and Vector Strain similar?
- They overlap on Action, 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.
- Does The Bug Butcher run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — The Bug Butcher is rated Deck Playable by Valve. Vector Strain doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.