Choose Ruins Runner
Choose Ruins Runner if you want a RPG, Free To Play, and Early Access experience. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero.
Ruins Runner vs Pongo! Paddle Pals!
Ruins Runner and Pongo! Paddle Pals! sit side-by-side in player discussions even though their catalogue tags only partly overlap. 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: Ruins Runner is free; Pongo! Paddle Pals! is paid (6.29 USD). 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 Pongo! Paddle Pals!
Choose Pongo! Paddle Pals! if you want an Indie, Adventure, and Simulation game with Online PvP, Shared/Split Screen PvP, and LAN PvP. Pongo! Paddle Pals! launched in 2026.
Both Ruins Runner and Pongo! Paddle Pals! ship Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen, and Online Co-op on Steam, so either pick lands close enough that the choice is taste, not category. 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
 Ruins Runner |  Pongo! Paddle Pals! | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | — | 2026 |
| Genres | RPG, Free To Play, Early Access | Indie, Adventure, Simulation, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Unrated |
| Price | Free to play | 6.29 USD |
| Steam reviews | — | 2 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Shared/Split Screen Co-op | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Shared/Split Screen Co-op |
| Developers | Mefi | Phoenix Feather Studios |
Side by side
- Ruins Runner is free; Pongo! Paddle Pals! is paid (6.29 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
Ruins Runner vs Pongo! Paddle Pals! — FAQ
- Do both Ruins Runner and Pongo! Paddle Pals! have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: Ruins Runner ships Online Co-op, Shared/Split Screen Co-op; Pongo! Paddle Pals! ships Online Co-op, Shared/Split Screen Co-op.
- Is Ruins Runner free?
- Yes — Ruins Runner is a free-to-play Steam title. Pongo! Paddle Pals! is paid (6.29 USD).