Choose Pankapu
Choose Pankapu if you want an Action and Indie experience. On Steam, it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. Pankapu launched in 2016.
Pankapu vs Crypt Custodian
Pankapu and Crypt Custodian both land in 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 are Adventure games on Steam. Pankapu (2016) is 8 years older than Crypt Custodian (2024). Crypt Custodian scores higher on Steam reviews (97.7% positive) than Pankapu (73% 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 Crypt Custodian
Choose Crypt Custodian if you want the Camera Comfort, Custom Volume Controls, and Keyboard Only Option side of the pairing. On Steam, it's the newer release (2024) and ships with the modern feature baseline. 1,495 Steam reviews back the pick.
Both Pankapu and Crypt Custodian sit in 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
 Pankapu |  Crypt Custodian | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2016 | 2024 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Adventure | Adventure |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Deck Playable |
| Price | 11.99 USD | 11.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 73% positive (74 reviews) | 97.7% positive (1,495 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Too Kind Studio | Kyle Thompson |
Side by side
- Both are Adventure games on Steam.
- Pankapu (2016) is 8 years older than Crypt Custodian (2024).
- Crypt Custodian scores higher on Steam reviews (97.7% positive) than Pankapu (73% positive).
- Crypt Custodian is currently ~0% cheaper on Steam than Pankapu (11.99 USD vs. 11.99 USD).
- Steam Deck: Pankapu is Deck Verified, Crypt Custodian is Deck Playable.
Pankapu vs Crypt Custodian — FAQ
- Should I play Pankapu or Crypt Custodian first?
- If you want chronology, Pankapu (2016) came out before Crypt Custodian (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 Pankapu and Crypt Custodian similar?
- They overlap on 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.