Choose ABZU
Choose ABZU if you want a Simulation experience. On Steam, it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. 9,748 Steam reviews back the pick.
ABZU vs BRIGHTEST
ABZU and BRIGHTEST 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. ABZU (2016) is 2 years older than BRIGHTEST (2018). BRIGHTEST is currently ~85% cheaper on Steam than ABZU (2.99 USD vs. 19.99 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 BRIGHTEST
Choose BRIGHTEST if it's currently about 85% cheaper on the Steam Store. BRIGHTEST launched in 2018.
Both ABZU and BRIGHTEST 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
 ABZU |  BRIGHTEST | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2016 | 2018 |
| Genres | Indie, Adventure, Simulation, Casual | Indie, Adventure, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Unrated |
| Price | 19.99 USD | 2.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 93.2% positive (9,748 reviews) | 3 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Giant Squid | TheElvenTale Games |
Side by side
- Both share Indie, Adventure, Casual on Steam.
- ABZU (2016) is 2 years older than BRIGHTEST (2018).
- BRIGHTEST is currently ~85% cheaper on Steam than ABZU (2.99 USD vs. 19.99 USD).
- ABZU is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; BRIGHTEST has no Deck rating yet.
ABZU vs BRIGHTEST — FAQ
- Should I play ABZU or BRIGHTEST first?
- If you want chronology, ABZU (2016) came out before BRIGHTEST (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 ABZU and BRIGHTEST 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.
- Does ABZU run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — ABZU is rated Deck Verified by Valve. BRIGHTEST doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.