Choose Human Resource Machine
Choose Human Resource Machine if it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. 1,452 Steam reviews back the pick.
Human Resource Machine vs Against the Gradient
Human Resource Machine and Against the Gradient both land in Indie, Simulation, 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, Simulation, Casual on Steam. Human Resource Machine (2015) is 2 years older than Against the Gradient (2017). Against the Gradient is currently ~80% cheaper on Steam than Human Resource Machine (2.99 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 Against the Gradient
Choose Against the Gradient if it's currently about 80% cheaper on the Steam Store. Against the Gradient launched in 2017.
Both Human Resource Machine and Against the Gradient sit in Indie, Simulation, 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
 Human Resource Machine |  Against the Gradient | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2015 | 2017 |
| Genres | Indie, Simulation, Casual | Indie, Simulation, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Unrated |
| Price | 14.99 USD | 2.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 93.2% positive (1,452 reviews) | 1 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Tomorrow Corporation | Cogent Education |
Side by side
- Both share Indie, Simulation, Casual on Steam.
- Human Resource Machine (2015) is 2 years older than Against the Gradient (2017).
- Against the Gradient is currently ~80% cheaper on Steam than Human Resource Machine (2.99 USD vs. 14.99 USD).
- Human Resource Machine is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Against the Gradient has no Deck rating yet.
Human Resource Machine vs Against the Gradient — FAQ
- Should I play Human Resource Machine or Against the Gradient first?
- If you want chronology, Human Resource Machine (2015) came out before Against the Gradient (2017). 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 Human Resource Machine and Against the Gradient similar?
- They overlap on Indie, Simulation, 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.
- Does Human Resource Machine run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Human Resource Machine is rated Deck Verified by Valve. Against the Gradient doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.