Choose Onward
Choose Onward if you want a Strategy, Indie, and Simulation game with SteamVR Collectibles. 7,203 Steam reviews back the pick.
Onward vs Pavlov Shack
Onward and Pavlov Shack both land in Action 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 are Action games on Steam. Onward (2025) is 1 year older than Pavlov Shack (2026). Onward scores higher on Steam reviews (68% positive) than Pavlov Shack (42.9% 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 Pavlov Shack
Choose Pavlov Shack if it's currently about 20% cheaper on the Steam Store. Pavlov Shack launched in 2026.
Both Onward and Pavlov Shack sit in Action on Steam and both list Multi-player, Online PvP, and Online Co-op, 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
 Onward |  Pavlov Shack | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2025 | 2026 |
| Genres | Action, Strategy, Indie, Simulation | Action |
| Platforms | Windows | — |
| Steam Deck | Deck Unsupported | Unrated |
| Price | 24.99 USD | 19.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 68% positive (7,203 reviews) | 42.9% positive (14 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op |
| Developers | Downpour Interactive | Vankrupt Games |
Side by side
- Both are Action games on Steam.
- Onward (2025) is 1 year older than Pavlov Shack (2026).
- Onward scores higher on Steam reviews (68% positive) than Pavlov Shack (42.9% positive).
- Pavlov Shack is currently ~20% cheaper on Steam than Onward (19.99 USD vs. 24.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
- Onward is Deck Unsupported on Steam Deck; Pavlov Shack has no Deck rating yet.
Onward vs Pavlov Shack — FAQ
- Should I play Onward or Pavlov Shack first?
- If you want chronology, Onward (2025) came out before Pavlov Shack (2026). 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 Onward and Pavlov Shack similar?
- They overlap on Action 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.
- Do both Onward and Pavlov Shack have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: Onward ships Online Co-op, Co-op; Pavlov Shack ships Online Co-op, Co-op.