Choose Mainlining
Choose Mainlining if it's currently about 35% cheaper on the Steam Store. Mainlining launched in 2017.
Mainlining vs Hardwork Simulator
Mainlining and Hardwork Simulator both land in Indie, Adventure, Simulation 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, Simulation on Steam. Mainlining (2017) is 4 years older than Hardwork Simulator (2021). Hardwork Simulator scores higher on Steam reviews (91.3% 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 Hardwork Simulator
Choose Hardwork Simulator if you want an Action and Casual experience. On Steam, it's the newer release (2021) and ships with the modern feature baseline. Hardwork Simulator launched in 2021.
Both Mainlining and Hardwork Simulator sit in Indie, Adventure, and Simulation 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 |  Hardwork Simulator | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2017 | 2021 |
| Genres | Indie, Adventure, Simulation | Action, Indie, Adventure, Simulation, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Unrated |
| Price | 1.29 USD | 1.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 76.4% positive (237 reviews) | 91.3% positive (23 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Rebelephant | Mandinga |
Side by side
- Both share Indie, Adventure, Simulation on Steam.
- Mainlining (2017) is 4 years older than Hardwork Simulator (2021).
- Hardwork Simulator scores higher on Steam reviews (91.3% positive) than Mainlining (76.4% positive).
- Mainlining is currently ~35% cheaper on Steam than Hardwork Simulator (1.29 USD vs. 1.99 USD).
Mainlining vs Hardwork Simulator — FAQ
- Should I play Mainlining or Hardwork Simulator first?
- If you want chronology, Mainlining (2017) came out before Hardwork Simulator (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 Hardwork Simulator similar?
- They overlap on Indie, Adventure, Simulation 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.