IMHO.

Onward vs Pavlov

Onward and Pavlov 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. Pavlov (2024) is 1 year older than Onward (2025). Pavlov scores higher on Steam reviews (89.3% 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 Onward

Choose Onward if you want a Strategy and Simulation game with SteamVR Collectibles. 7,203 Steam reviews back the pick.

Choose Pavlov

Choose Pavlov if it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 89.3% positive across 30,993 reviews.

Both Onward and Pavlov sit in Action and Indie 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 vs Pavlov — Steam metadata comparison
Onward — Steam game coverOnwardPavlov — Steam game coverPavlov
Released20252024
GenresAction, Strategy, Indie, SimulationAction, Indie
PlatformsWindowsWindows
Steam DeckDeck UnsupportedDeck Unsupported
Price24.99 USD24.99 USD
Steam reviews68% positive (7,203 reviews)89.3% positive (30,993 reviews)
MultiplayerMulti-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-opMulti-player, Online Co-op, Co-op
DevelopersDownpour InteractiveVankrupt Games

Side by side

Onward vs Pavlov — FAQ

Which is better, Onward or Pavlov?
On Steam reviews Pavlov scores higher (89.3% positive) than Onward (68% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, Pavlov 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 Pavlov first?
If you want chronology, Pavlov (2024) 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 Pavlov 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.
Do both Onward and Pavlov have co-op?
Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: Onward ships Online Co-op, Co-op; Pavlov ships Online Co-op, Co-op.