Choose Investigator
Choose Investigator if you want a Simulation experience. On Steam, it's currently about 38% cheaper on the Steam Store. Investigator launched in 2016.
Investigator vs ColdSide
Investigator and ColdSide 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. Investigator (2016) is 4 years older than ColdSide (2020). ColdSide scores higher on Steam reviews (76.2% positive) than Investigator (65% 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 ColdSide
Choose ColdSide if it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 76.2% positive across 126 reviews.
Both Investigator and ColdSide 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
 Investigator |  ColdSide | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2016 | 2020 |
| Genres | Indie, Adventure, Simulation | Indie, Adventure |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Deck Playable |
| Price | 4.99 USD | 7.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 65% positive (283 reviews) | 76.2% positive (126 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | AdroVGames | AdroVGames |
Side by side
- Both share Indie, Adventure on Steam.
- Investigator (2016) is 4 years older than ColdSide (2020).
- ColdSide scores higher on Steam reviews (76.2% positive) than Investigator (65% positive).
- Investigator is currently ~38% cheaper on Steam than ColdSide (4.99 USD vs. 7.99 USD).
- ColdSide is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; Investigator has no Deck rating yet.
Investigator vs ColdSide — FAQ
- Which is better, Investigator or ColdSide?
- On Steam reviews ColdSide scores higher (76.2% positive) than Investigator (65% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, ColdSide is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.
- Should I play Investigator or ColdSide first?
- If you want chronology, Investigator (2016) came out before ColdSide (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.
- Are Investigator and ColdSide 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.