Choose Nex Machina
Choose Nex Machina if you want the Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen, and Shared/Split Screen 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 Highway to the Moon
Nex Machina and Highway to the Moon 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. Highway to the Moon (2016) is 1 year older than Nex Machina (2017). Highway to the Moon is currently ~95% cheaper on Steam than Nex Machina (0.99 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 Highway to the Moon
Choose Highway to the Moon if it's currently about 95% cheaper on the Steam Store. Highway to the Moon launched in 2016.
Both Nex Machina and Highway to the Moon sit in Action and Indie 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
 Nex Machina |  Highway to the Moon | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2017 | 2016 |
| Genres | Action, Indie | Action, Indie |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Unsupported | Unrated |
| Price | 19.99 USD | 0.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 90.7% positive (885 reviews) | 3 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op | Single-player only |
| Developers | Housemarque | Vernacular Games |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie on Steam.
- Highway to the Moon (2016) is 1 year older than Nex Machina (2017).
- Highway to the Moon is currently ~95% cheaper on Steam than Nex Machina (0.99 USD vs. 19.99 USD).
- Nex Machina has co-op; Highway to the Moon does not.
- Nex Machina is Deck Unsupported on Steam Deck; Highway to the Moon has no Deck rating yet.
Nex Machina vs Highway to the Moon — FAQ
- Should I play Nex Machina or Highway to the Moon first?
- If you want chronology, Highway to the Moon (2016) 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 Highway to the Moon 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.
- Does Highway to the Moon have multiplayer like Nex Machina?
- No. Nex Machina supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op), while Highway to the Moon is listed as single-player only.