Choose Scanner Sombre
Choose Scanner Sombre if it matches what drew you to this matchup. 2,301 Steam reviews back the pick.
Scanner Sombre vs Dr. Emmerson's Nocturnes
Scanner Sombre and Dr. Emmerson's Nocturnes 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. Scanner Sombre (2017) is 10 years older than Dr. Emmerson's Nocturnes (2027). Dr. Emmerson's Nocturnes is free; Scanner Sombre is paid (6.99 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 Dr. Emmerson's Nocturnes
Choose Dr. Emmerson's Nocturnes if you want a Free To Play and Casual game with DualShock Controller Support. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. Dr. Emmerson's Nocturnes launched in 2027.
Both Scanner Sombre and Dr. Emmerson's Nocturnes sit in Indie and Adventure on Steam and both list Tracked Controller Support and VR Supported, 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
 Scanner Sombre |  Dr. Emmerson's Nocturnes | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2017 | 2027 |
| Genres | Indie, Adventure | Indie, Adventure, Free To Play, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | 6.99 USD | Free to play |
| Steam reviews | 91% positive (2,301 reviews) | — |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Introversion Software | Bit Golem |
Side by side
- Both share Indie, Adventure on Steam.
- Scanner Sombre (2017) is 10 years older than Dr. Emmerson's Nocturnes (2027).
- Dr. Emmerson's Nocturnes is free; Scanner Sombre is paid (6.99 USD).
- Scanner Sombre is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; Dr. Emmerson's Nocturnes has no Deck rating yet.
Scanner Sombre vs Dr. Emmerson's Nocturnes — FAQ
- Should I play Scanner Sombre or Dr. Emmerson's Nocturnes first?
- If you want chronology, Scanner Sombre (2017) came out before Dr. Emmerson's Nocturnes (2027). 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 Scanner Sombre and Dr. Emmerson's Nocturnes 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.
- Is Dr. Emmerson's Nocturnes free?
- Yes — Dr. Emmerson's Nocturnes is a free-to-play Steam title. Scanner Sombre is paid (6.99 USD).
- Does Scanner Sombre run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Scanner Sombre is rated Deck Playable by Valve. Dr. Emmerson's Nocturnes doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.