Choose Subsistence
Choose Subsistence if you want the Multi-player, Online PvP, and Online Co-op side of the pairing. On Steam, it has co-op, so you can bring a friend. 6,866 Steam reviews back the pick.
Subsistence vs The Infected
Subsistence and The Infected both land in Action, Early Access 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, Early Access on Steam. Subsistence (2016) is 4 years older than The Infected (2020). The Infected scores higher on Steam reviews (84% positive) than Subsistence (70% 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 Infected
Choose The Infected if you want an Indie, Simulation, and Casual experience. On Steam, it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 84% positive across 3,654 reviews.
Both Subsistence and The Infected sit in Action and Early Access 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
 Subsistence |  The Infected | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2016 | 2020 |
| Genres | Action, Early Access | Action, Indie, Simulation, Casual, Early Access |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Deck Playable |
| Price | 13.99 USD | 15.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 70% positive (6,866 reviews) | 84% positive (3,654 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op | Single-player only |
| Developers | ColdGames | DigX Studios |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Early Access on Steam.
- Subsistence (2016) is 4 years older than The Infected (2020).
- The Infected scores higher on Steam reviews (84% positive) than Subsistence (70% positive).
- Subsistence is currently ~13% cheaper on Steam than The Infected (13.99 USD vs. 15.99 USD).
- Subsistence has co-op; The Infected does not.
- Both are Deck Playable.
Subsistence vs The Infected — FAQ
- Which is better, Subsistence or The Infected?
- On Steam reviews The Infected scores higher (84% positive) than Subsistence (70% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, The Infected is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.
- Should I play Subsistence or The Infected first?
- If you want chronology, Subsistence (2016) came out before The Infected (2020). 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 Subsistence and The Infected similar?
- They overlap on Action, Early Access 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 The Infected have multiplayer like Subsistence?
- No. Subsistence supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op), while The Infected is listed as single-player only.