Choose Cobalt
Choose Cobalt if you want an Indie game with Steam Leaderboards, Online PvP, and Shared/Split Screen PvP. On Steam, it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. Cobalt launched in 2016.
Cobalt vs Automatonics
Cobalt and Automatonics 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. Cobalt (2016) is 11 years older than Automatonics (2027). Both support cooperative play. 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 Automatonics
Choose Automatonics if you want the DualShock Controller Support and Gamepad Recommended side of the pairing. On Steam, it's the newer release (2027) and ships with the modern feature baseline. Automatonics launched in 2027.
Both Cobalt and Automatonics sit in Action and Adventure on Steam and both list Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen, and Shared/Split Screen 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
 Cobalt |  Automatonics | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2016 | 2027 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Adventure | Action, Adventure |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Unrated |
| Price | 14.99 USD | Price unknown |
| Steam reviews | 90.2% positive (245 reviews) | — |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Shared/Split Screen Co-op | Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | Oxeye Game Studio | Basic Shapes |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Adventure on Steam.
- Cobalt (2016) is 11 years older than Automatonics (2027).
- Both support cooperative play.
- Cobalt is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Automatonics has no Deck rating yet.
Cobalt vs Automatonics — FAQ
- Should I play Cobalt or Automatonics first?
- If you want chronology, Cobalt (2016) came out before Automatonics (2027). 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 Cobalt and Automatonics 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.
- Do both Cobalt and Automatonics have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: Cobalt ships Online Co-op, Shared/Split Screen Co-op; Automatonics ships Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op.
- Does Cobalt run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Cobalt is rated Deck Verified by Valve. Automatonics doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.