Choose Black Mesa
Choose Black Mesa if you want the Multi-player, Includes Source SDK, and Online PvP side of the pairing. 69,272 Steam reviews back the pick.
Black Mesa vs Project Three
Black Mesa and Project Three both land in Action, Indie, 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, Indie, Adventure on Steam. Black Mesa (2020) is 5 years older than Project Three (2025). Black Mesa scores higher on Steam reviews (94.9% positive) than Project Three (26.1% 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 Project Three
Choose Project Three if you want a Casual, Early Access, and Racing experience. On Steam, it's currently about 60% cheaper on the Steam Store. Project Three launched in 2025.
Both Black Mesa and Project Three sit in Action, Indie, and Adventure on Steam, 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
 Black Mesa |  Project Three | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2020 | 2025 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Adventure | Action, Indie, Adventure, Casual, Early Access, Racing |
| Platforms | Windows, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | 19.99 USD | 7.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 94.9% positive (69,272 reviews) | 26.1% positive (23 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer | Single-player only |
| Developers | Crowbar Collective | The Only Way Out |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie, Adventure on Steam.
- Black Mesa (2020) is 5 years older than Project Three (2025).
- Black Mesa scores higher on Steam reviews (94.9% positive) than Project Three (26.1% positive).
- Project Three is currently ~60% cheaper on Steam than Black Mesa (7.99 USD vs. 19.99 USD).
- Black Mesa is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; Project Three has no Deck rating yet.
Black Mesa vs Project Three — FAQ
- Should I play Black Mesa or Project Three first?
- If you want chronology, Black Mesa (2020) came out before Project Three (2025). 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 Black Mesa and Project Three similar?
- They overlap on Action, Indie, 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.
- Does Project Three have multiplayer like Black Mesa?
- No. Black Mesa supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer), while Project Three is listed as single-player only.
- Does Black Mesa run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Black Mesa is rated Deck Playable by Valve. Project Three doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.