Choose The Swindle
Choose The Swindle if you want a RPG experience. On Steam, it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. The Swindle launched in 2015.
The Swindle vs Contract Work
The Swindle and Contract Work 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. The Swindle (2015) is 4 years older than Contract Work (2019). Contract Work is currently ~67% cheaper on Steam than The Swindle (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 Contract Work
Choose Contract Work if you want an Early Access experience. On Steam, it's currently about 67% cheaper on the Steam Store. Contract Work launched in 2019.
Both The Swindle and Contract Work sit in Action and Indie 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 Swindle |  Contract Work | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2015 | 2019 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, RPG | Action, Indie, Early Access |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Unrated |
| Price | 14.99 USD | 4.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 62.7% positive (416 reviews) | 3 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Size Five Games | Iterative Games |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie on Steam.
- The Swindle (2015) is 4 years older than Contract Work (2019).
- Contract Work is currently ~67% cheaper on Steam than The Swindle (4.99 USD vs. 14.99 USD).
- The Swindle is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Contract Work has no Deck rating yet.
The Swindle vs Contract Work — FAQ
- Should I play The Swindle or Contract Work first?
- If you want chronology, The Swindle (2015) came out before Contract Work (2019). 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 Swindle and Contract Work 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.
- Does The Swindle run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — The Swindle is rated Deck Verified by Valve. Contract Work doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.