Choose The Darkside Detective
Choose The Darkside Detective if you want the Camera Comfort, Custom Volume Controls, and Playable without Timed Input side of the pairing. 1,987 Steam reviews back the pick.
The Darkside Detective vs Detective Case and Clown Bot in: The Express Killer
The Darkside Detective and Detective Case and Clown Bot in: The Express Killer both land in Indie, Adventure, Casual 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 Indie, Adventure, Casual on Steam. The Darkside Detective (2017) is 1 year older than Detective Case and Clown Bot in: The Express Killer (2018). Detective Case and Clown Bot in: The Express Killer is currently ~53% cheaper on Steam than The Darkside Detective (6.99 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 Detective Case and Clown Bot in: The Express Killer
Choose Detective Case and Clown Bot in: The Express Killer if it's currently about 53% cheaper on the Steam Store. Detective Case and Clown Bot in: The Express Killer launched in 2018.
Both The Darkside Detective and Detective Case and Clown Bot in: The Express Killer sit in Indie, Adventure, and Casual 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
 The Darkside Detective |  Detective Case and Clown Bot in: The Express Killer | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2017 | 2018 |
| Genres | Indie, Adventure, Casual | Indie, Adventure, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Deck Verified |
| Price | 14.99 USD | 6.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 94.2% positive (1,987 reviews) | 8 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Spooky Doorway | Nerd Monkeys |
Side by side
- Both share Indie, Adventure, Casual on Steam.
- The Darkside Detective (2017) is 1 year older than Detective Case and Clown Bot in: The Express Killer (2018).
- Detective Case and Clown Bot in: The Express Killer is currently ~53% cheaper on Steam than The Darkside Detective (6.99 USD vs. 14.99 USD).
- Both are Deck Verified.
The Darkside Detective vs Detective Case and Clown Bot in: The Express Killer — FAQ
- Should I play The Darkside Detective or Detective Case and Clown Bot in: The Express Killer first?
- If you want chronology, The Darkside Detective (2017) came out before Detective Case and Clown Bot in: The Express Killer (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 The Darkside Detective and Detective Case and Clown Bot in: The Express Killer similar?
- They overlap on Indie, Adventure, Casual 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 The Darkside Detective and Detective Case and Clown Bot in: The Express Killer both run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — both are Steam Deck Verified, meaning Valve confirms they run with full controller support, legible text, and default settings out of the box.