Choose Borstal
Choose Borstal if it matches what drew you to this matchup. Borstal launched in 2016.
Borstal vs Merge Hero
Borstal and Merge Hero both land in Indie, Adventure, RPG 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 Indie, Adventure, RPG on Steam. Borstal (2016) is 6 years older than Merge Hero (2022). Borstal scores higher on Steam reviews (50% positive) than Merge Hero (30% 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 Merge Hero
Choose Merge Hero if you want a Simulation experience. On Steam, it's currently about 33% cheaper on the Steam Store. Merge Hero launched in 2022.
Both Borstal and Merge Hero sit in Indie, Adventure, and RPG on Steam and both list Steam Leaderboards, 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
 Borstal |  Merge Hero | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2016 | 2022 |
| Genres | Indie, Adventure, RPG | Indie, Adventure, Simulation, RPG |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Unrated |
| Price | 2.99 USD | 1.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 50% positive (14 reviews) | 30% positive (10 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | The Secret Pie | PaulArt |
Side by side
- Both share Indie, Adventure, RPG on Steam.
- Borstal (2016) is 6 years older than Merge Hero (2022).
- Borstal scores higher on Steam reviews (50% positive) than Merge Hero (30% positive).
- Merge Hero is currently ~33% cheaper on Steam than Borstal (1.99 USD vs. 2.99 USD).
Borstal vs Merge Hero — FAQ
- Should I play Borstal or Merge Hero first?
- If you want chronology, Borstal (2016) came out before Merge Hero (2022). 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 Borstal and Merge Hero similar?
- They overlap on Indie, Adventure, RPG 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.