Choose Oxenfree
Choose Oxenfree if you want an Indie experience. On Steam, it's currently about 50% cheaper on the Steam Store. 6,745 Steam reviews back the pick.
Oxenfree vs The Tartarus Key
Oxenfree and The Tartarus Key both land in 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 are Adventure games on Steam. Oxenfree (2016) is 7 years older than The Tartarus Key (2023). The Tartarus Key scores higher on Steam reviews (95.4% positive) than Oxenfree (92% 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 The Tartarus Key
Choose The Tartarus Key if you want the Subtitle Options, Camera Comfort, and Custom Volume Controls side of the pairing. On Steam, it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 95.4% positive across 195 reviews.
Both Oxenfree and The Tartarus Key sit in 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
 Oxenfree |  The Tartarus Key | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2016 | 2023 |
| Genres | Indie, Adventure | Adventure |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Unrated |
| Price | 9.99 USD | 19.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 92% positive (6,745 reviews) | 95.4% positive (195 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Night School Studio | Vertical Reach |
Side by side
- Both are Adventure games on Steam.
- Oxenfree (2016) is 7 years older than The Tartarus Key (2023).
- The Tartarus Key scores higher on Steam reviews (95.4% positive) than Oxenfree (92% positive).
- Oxenfree is currently ~50% cheaper on Steam than The Tartarus Key (9.99 USD vs. 19.99 USD).
- Oxenfree is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; The Tartarus Key has no Deck rating yet.
Oxenfree vs The Tartarus Key — FAQ
- Which is better, Oxenfree or The Tartarus Key?
- On Steam reviews The Tartarus Key scores higher (95.4% positive) than Oxenfree (92% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, The Tartarus Key is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.
- Should I play Oxenfree or The Tartarus Key first?
- If you want chronology, Oxenfree (2016) came out before The Tartarus Key (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 Oxenfree and The Tartarus Key similar?
- They overlap on 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.
- Does Oxenfree run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Oxenfree is rated Deck Verified by Valve. The Tartarus Key doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.