Choose The Lab
Choose The Lab if you want a Free To Play game with Steam Leaderboards and SteamVR Collectibles. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. 4,429 Steam reviews back the pick.
The Lab vs Gadgeteer
The Lab and Gadgeteer sit side-by-side in player discussions even though their catalogue tags only partly overlap. 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: The Lab (2016) is 4 years older than Gadgeteer (2020). Gadgeteer scores higher on Steam reviews (97.6% positive) than The Lab (95.1% positive). The Lab is free; Gadgeteer is paid (14.99 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 Gadgeteer
Choose Gadgeteer if you want an Indie and Simulation experience. On Steam, it's the newer release (2020) and ships with the modern feature baseline. Gadgeteer launched in 2020.
Both The Lab and Gadgeteer ship Tracked Controller Support and VR Only on Steam, so either pick lands close enough that the choice is taste, not category. 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
 The Lab |  Gadgeteer | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2016 | 2020 |
| Genres | Free To Play | Indie, Simulation |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Unsupported | Unrated |
| Price | Free to play | 14.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 95.1% positive (4,429 reviews) | 97.6% positive (82 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Valve | Metanaut |
Side by side
- The Lab (2016) is 4 years older than Gadgeteer (2020).
- Gadgeteer scores higher on Steam reviews (97.6% positive) than The Lab (95.1% positive).
- The Lab is free; Gadgeteer is paid (14.99 USD).
- The Lab is Deck Unsupported on Steam Deck; Gadgeteer has no Deck rating yet.
The Lab vs Gadgeteer — FAQ
- Should I play The Lab or Gadgeteer first?
- If you want chronology, The Lab (2016) came out before Gadgeteer (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.
- Is The Lab free?
- Yes — The Lab is a free-to-play Steam title. Gadgeteer is paid (14.99 USD).