Choose The Swindle
Choose The Swindle if it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. The Swindle launched in 2015.
The Swindle vs ENERGY SURVIVORS
The Swindle and ENERGY SURVIVORS both land in Action, Indie, RPG 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, RPG on Steam. The Swindle (2015) is 8 years older than ENERGY SURVIVORS (2023). ENERGY SURVIVORS scores higher on Steam reviews (83.3% positive) than The Swindle (62.7% 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 ENERGY SURVIVORS
Choose ENERGY SURVIVORS if you want a Casual and Early Access experience. On Steam, it's currently about 80% cheaper on the Steam Store. ENERGY SURVIVORS launched in 2023.
Both The Swindle and ENERGY SURVIVORS sit in Action, Indie, and RPG 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 |  ENERGY SURVIVORS | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2015 | 2023 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, RPG | Action, Indie, RPG, Casual, Early Access |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Deck Playable |
| Price | 14.99 USD | 2.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 62.7% positive (416 reviews) | 83.3% positive (18 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Size Five Games | Robotizar Games |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie, RPG on Steam.
- The Swindle (2015) is 8 years older than ENERGY SURVIVORS (2023).
- ENERGY SURVIVORS scores higher on Steam reviews (83.3% positive) than The Swindle (62.7% positive).
- ENERGY SURVIVORS is currently ~80% cheaper on Steam than The Swindle (2.99 USD vs. 14.99 USD).
- Steam Deck: The Swindle is Deck Verified, ENERGY SURVIVORS is Deck Playable.
The Swindle vs ENERGY SURVIVORS — FAQ
- Should I play The Swindle or ENERGY SURVIVORS first?
- If you want chronology, The Swindle (2015) came out before ENERGY SURVIVORS (2023). 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 ENERGY SURVIVORS similar?
- They overlap on Action, Indie, RPG 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.