Choose Hob
Choose Hob if you want an Indie experience. 1,912 Steam reviews back the pick.
Hob vs Shadow Lens
Hob and Shadow Lens both land in Action, 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 share Action, Adventure on Steam. Hob (2017) is 6 years older than Shadow Lens (2023). Shadow Lens is currently ~75% cheaper on Steam than Hob (0.99 USD vs. 3.99 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 Shadow Lens
Choose Shadow Lens if it's currently about 75% cheaper on the Steam Store. Shadow Lens launched in 2023.
Both Hob and Shadow Lens sit in Action and 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
 Hob |  Shadow Lens | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2017 | 2023 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Adventure | Action, Adventure |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | 3.99 USD | 0.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 89% positive (1,912 reviews) | 2 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Runic Games | Retromind |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Adventure on Steam.
- Hob (2017) is 6 years older than Shadow Lens (2023).
- Shadow Lens is currently ~75% cheaper on Steam than Hob (0.99 USD vs. 3.99 USD).
- Hob is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; Shadow Lens has no Deck rating yet.
Hob vs Shadow Lens — FAQ
- Should I play Hob or Shadow Lens first?
- If you want chronology, Hob (2017) came out before Shadow Lens (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 Hob and Shadow Lens similar?
- They overlap on Action, 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 Hob run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Hob is rated Deck Playable by Valve. Shadow Lens doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.