Choose Firewatch
Choose Firewatch if it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. 55,602 Steam reviews back the pick.
Firewatch vs A Murmur in the Trees
Firewatch and A Murmur in the Trees both land in Indie, 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 share Indie, Adventure on Steam. Firewatch (2016) is 5 years older than A Murmur in the Trees (2021). Firewatch scores higher on Steam reviews (89.2% positive) than A Murmur in the Trees (84.6% 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 A Murmur in the Trees
Choose A Murmur in the Trees if you want a Free To Play experience. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. A Murmur in the Trees launched in 2021.
Both Firewatch and A Murmur in the Trees sit in Indie and 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
 Firewatch |  A Murmur in the Trees | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2016 | 2021 |
| Genres | Indie, Adventure | Indie, Adventure, Free To Play |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Unrated |
| Price | 19.99 USD | Free to play |
| Steam reviews | 89.2% positive (55,602 reviews) | 84.6% positive (26 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Campo Santo | Ben Wesorick |
Side by side
- Both share Indie, Adventure on Steam.
- Firewatch (2016) is 5 years older than A Murmur in the Trees (2021).
- Firewatch scores higher on Steam reviews (89.2% positive) than A Murmur in the Trees (84.6% positive).
- A Murmur in the Trees is free; Firewatch is paid (19.99 USD).
- Firewatch is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; A Murmur in the Trees has no Deck rating yet.
Firewatch vs A Murmur in the Trees — FAQ
- Should I play Firewatch or A Murmur in the Trees first?
- If you want chronology, Firewatch (2016) came out before A Murmur in the Trees (2021). 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 Firewatch and A Murmur in the Trees similar?
- They overlap on Indie, 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.
- Is A Murmur in the Trees free?
- Yes — A Murmur in the Trees is a free-to-play Steam title. Firewatch is paid (19.99 USD).
- Does Firewatch run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Firewatch is rated Deck Verified by Valve. A Murmur in the Trees doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.