Choose Mainlining
Choose Mainlining if you want a Simulation experience. Mainlining launched in 2017.
Mainlining vs Midnight Protocol
Mainlining and Midnight Protocol both land in Indie, 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 Indie, Adventure on Steam. Mainlining (2017) is 4 years older than Midnight Protocol (2021). Midnight Protocol scores higher on Steam reviews (85.3% positive) than Mainlining (76.4% 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 Midnight Protocol
Choose Midnight Protocol if you want an Action, Strategy, and RPG experience. On Steam, it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 85.3% positive across 156 reviews.
Both Mainlining and Midnight Protocol sit in Indie 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
 Mainlining |  Midnight Protocol | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2017 | 2021 |
| Genres | Indie, Adventure, Simulation | Action, Strategy, Indie, Adventure, RPG |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Deck Playable |
| Price | 12.99 USD | 14.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 76.4% positive (237 reviews) | 85.3% positive (156 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Rebelephant | LuGus Studios |
Side by side
- Both share Indie, Adventure on Steam.
- Mainlining (2017) is 4 years older than Midnight Protocol (2021).
- Midnight Protocol scores higher on Steam reviews (85.3% positive) than Mainlining (76.4% positive).
- Mainlining is currently ~13% cheaper on Steam than Midnight Protocol (12.99 USD vs. 14.99 USD).
- Midnight Protocol is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; Mainlining has no Deck rating yet.
Mainlining vs Midnight Protocol — FAQ
- Which is better, Mainlining or Midnight Protocol?
- On Steam reviews Midnight Protocol scores higher (85.3% positive) than Mainlining (76.4% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, Midnight Protocol is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.
- Should I play Mainlining or Midnight Protocol first?
- If you want chronology, Mainlining (2017) came out before Midnight Protocol (2021). 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 Mainlining and Midnight Protocol similar?
- They overlap on Indie, 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.