Choose Nex Machina
Choose Nex Machina if you want the Shared/Split Screen Co-op and Co-op side of the pairing. On Steam, it has co-op, so you can bring a friend. Nex Machina launched in 2017.
Nex Machina vs Vector Strain
Nex Machina and Vector Strain both land in Action, Indie 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, Indie on Steam. Vector Strain (2015) is 2 years older than Nex Machina (2017). Nex Machina scores higher on Steam reviews (90.7% positive) than Vector Strain (62.5% 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 Vector Strain
Choose Vector Strain if it's currently about 75% cheaper on the Steam Store. Vector Strain launched in 2015.
Both Nex Machina and Vector Strain sit in Action and Indie on Steam and both list Multi-player and Shared/Split Screen, 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
 Nex Machina |  Vector Strain | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2017 | 2015 |
| Genres | Action, Indie | Action, Indie |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Unsupported | Unrated |
| Price | 19.99 USD | 4.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 90.7% positive (885 reviews) | 62.5% positive (16 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op | Multi-player |
| Developers | Housemarque | OMNIDREAM CREATIONS |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie on Steam.
- Vector Strain (2015) is 2 years older than Nex Machina (2017).
- Nex Machina scores higher on Steam reviews (90.7% positive) than Vector Strain (62.5% positive).
- Vector Strain is currently ~75% cheaper on Steam than Nex Machina (4.99 USD vs. 19.99 USD).
- Nex Machina has co-op; Vector Strain does not.
- Nex Machina is Deck Unsupported on Steam Deck; Vector Strain has no Deck rating yet.
Nex Machina vs Vector Strain — FAQ
- Should I play Nex Machina or Vector Strain first?
- If you want chronology, Vector Strain (2015) came out before Nex Machina (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 Nex Machina and Vector Strain similar?
- They overlap on Action, Indie 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.