Choose Onward
Choose Onward if you want a Strategy and Simulation game with Online Co-op and Co-op. On Steam, it's the newer release (2025) and ships with the modern feature baseline. 7,203 Steam reviews back the pick.
Onward vs Smashbox Arena
Onward and Smashbox Arena both land in Action, Indie 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 Action, Indie on Steam. Smashbox Arena (2016) is 9 years older than Onward (2025). Smashbox Arena scores higher on Steam reviews (91.8% positive) than Onward (68% 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 Smashbox Arena
Choose Smashbox Arena if it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 91.8% positive across 291 reviews.
Both Onward and Smashbox Arena sit in Action and Indie on Steam and both list Multi-player, Online PvP, and SteamVR Collectibles, 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 |  Smashbox Arena | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2025 | 2016 |
| Genres | Action, Strategy, Indie, Simulation | Action, Indie |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Unsupported | Unrated |
| Price | 24.99 USD | Price unknown |
| Steam reviews | 68% positive (7,203 reviews) | 91.8% positive (291 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op | Multi-player |
| Developers | Downpour Interactive | BigBox VR, Inc. |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie on Steam.
- Smashbox Arena (2016) is 9 years older than Onward (2025).
- Smashbox Arena scores higher on Steam reviews (91.8% positive) than Onward (68% positive).
- Onward has co-op; Smashbox Arena does not.
- Onward is Deck Unsupported on Steam Deck; Smashbox Arena has no Deck rating yet.
Onward vs Smashbox Arena — FAQ
- Which is better, Onward or Smashbox Arena?
- On Steam reviews Smashbox Arena scores higher (91.8% positive) than Onward (68% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, Smashbox Arena is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.
- Should I play Onward or Smashbox Arena first?
- If you want chronology, Smashbox Arena (2016) came out before Onward (2025). 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 Smashbox Arena similar?
- They overlap on Action, Indie 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.