Choose Vartio
Choose Vartio if it's currently about 43% cheaper on the Steam Store. Vartio launched in 2025.
Vartio vs The Strange Lights
Vartio and The Strange Lights both land in 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 are Adventure games on Steam. Vartio (2025) is 1 year older than The Strange Lights (2026). The Strange Lights scores higher on Steam reviews (85.2% positive) than Vartio (78.1% 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 The Strange Lights
Choose The Strange Lights if you want an Indie and Simulation experience. The Strange Lights launched in 2026.
Both Vartio and The Strange Lights sit in 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
 Vartio |  The Strange Lights | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2025 | 2026 |
| Genres | Adventure | Indie, Adventure, Simulation |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Unrated |
| Price | 1.99 USD | 3.49 USD |
| Steam reviews | 78.1% positive (32 reviews) | 85.2% positive (61 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Pepperbox Studios | JustTomcuk |
Side by side
- Both are Adventure games on Steam.
- Vartio (2025) is 1 year older than The Strange Lights (2026).
- The Strange Lights scores higher on Steam reviews (85.2% positive) than Vartio (78.1% positive).
- Vartio is currently ~43% cheaper on Steam than The Strange Lights (1.99 USD vs. 3.49 USD).
- Vartio is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; The Strange Lights has no Deck rating yet.
Vartio vs The Strange Lights — FAQ
- Should I play Vartio or The Strange Lights first?
- If you want chronology, Vartio (2025) came out before The Strange Lights (2026). 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 Vartio and The Strange Lights similar?
- They overlap on 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 Vartio run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Vartio is rated Deck Verified by Valve. The Strange Lights doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.