Choose Anode
Choose Anode if you want an Indie experience. On Steam, it's currently about 69% cheaper on the Steam Store. Anode launched in 2015.
Anode vs Cylinder: Puzzles Returned
Anode and Cylinder: Puzzles Returned both land in Action, 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 Action, Casual on Steam. Anode (2015) is 9 years older than Cylinder: Puzzles Returned (2024). Cylinder: Puzzles Returned scores higher on Steam reviews (100% positive) than Anode (90.2% 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 Cylinder: Puzzles Returned
Choose Cylinder: Puzzles Returned if you want the Online PvP side of the pairing. On Steam, it's the newer release (2024) and ships with the modern feature baseline. Cylinder: Puzzles Returned launched in 2024.
Both Anode and Cylinder: Puzzles Returned sit in Action and Casual on Steam and both list Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen, and Steam Leaderboards, 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
 Anode |  Cylinder: Puzzles Returned | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2015 | 2024 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Casual | Action, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Deck Verified |
| Price | 3.99 USD | 12.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 90.2% positive (41 reviews) | 100% positive (15 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player | Multi-player |
| Developers | Kittehface Software | Mighty Rabbit Studios |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Casual on Steam.
- Anode (2015) is 9 years older than Cylinder: Puzzles Returned (2024).
- Cylinder: Puzzles Returned scores higher on Steam reviews (100% positive) than Anode (90.2% positive).
- Anode is currently ~69% cheaper on Steam than Cylinder: Puzzles Returned (3.99 USD vs. 12.99 USD).
- Both are Deck Verified.
Anode vs Cylinder: Puzzles Returned — FAQ
- Should I play Anode or Cylinder: Puzzles Returned first?
- If you want chronology, Anode (2015) came out before Cylinder: Puzzles Returned (2024). 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 Anode and Cylinder: Puzzles Returned similar?
- They overlap on Action, 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.
- Do Anode and Cylinder: Puzzles Returned both run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — both are Steam Deck Verified, meaning Valve confirms they run with full controller support, legible text, and default settings out of the box.