Choose Cobalt
Choose Cobalt if you want an Adventure game with Steam Leaderboards, Online PvP, and Online Co-op. On Steam, it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. Cobalt launched in 2016.
Cobalt vs Varion
Cobalt and Varion 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. Cobalt (2016) is 2 years older than Varion (2018). Varion is currently ~67% cheaper on Steam than Cobalt (4.99 USD vs. 14.99 USD). 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 Varion
Choose Varion if you want a Casual experience. On Steam, it's currently about 67% cheaper on the Steam Store. Varion launched in 2018.
Both Cobalt and Varion sit in Action and Indie on Steam and both list Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen, and Shared/Split Screen PvP, 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 |  Varion | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2016 | 2018 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Adventure | Action, Indie, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Unrated |
| Price | 14.99 USD | 4.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 90.2% positive (245 reviews) | 9 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 | Rundisc |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie on Steam.
- Cobalt (2016) is 2 years older than Varion (2018).
- Varion is currently ~67% cheaper on Steam than Cobalt (4.99 USD vs. 14.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
- Cobalt is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Varion has no Deck rating yet.
Cobalt vs Varion — FAQ
- Should I play Cobalt or Varion first?
- If you want chronology, Cobalt (2016) came out before Varion (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 Cobalt and Varion 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.
- Do both Cobalt and Varion have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: Cobalt ships Online Co-op, Shared/Split Screen Co-op; Varion ships Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op.
- Does Cobalt run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Cobalt is rated Deck Verified by Valve. Varion doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.