Choose Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura
Choose Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura if it matches what drew you to this matchup. 1,174 Steam reviews back the pick.
Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura vs Shattering Obsidian
Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura and Shattering Obsidian both land in RPG 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 RPG games on Steam. Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura (2016) is 4 years older than Shattering Obsidian (2020). Shattering Obsidian is free; Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura is paid (5.99 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 Shattering Obsidian
Choose Shattering Obsidian if it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. Shattering Obsidian launched in 2020.
Both Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura and Shattering Obsidian sit in RPG 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
 Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura |  Shattering Obsidian | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2016 | 2020 |
| Genres | RPG | RPG |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Unsupported | Unrated |
| Price | 5.99 USD | Free to play |
| Steam reviews | 87.5% positive (1,174 reviews) | 7 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Troika Games | James K. Isaac |
Side by side
- Both are RPG games on Steam.
- Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura (2016) is 4 years older than Shattering Obsidian (2020).
- Shattering Obsidian is free; Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura is paid (5.99 USD).
- Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura is Deck Unsupported on Steam Deck; Shattering Obsidian has no Deck rating yet.
Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura vs Shattering Obsidian — FAQ
- Should I play Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura or Shattering Obsidian first?
- If you want chronology, Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura (2016) came out before Shattering Obsidian (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 Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura and Shattering Obsidian similar?
- They overlap on RPG 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 Shattering Obsidian free?
- Yes — Shattering Obsidian is a free-to-play Steam title. Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura is paid (5.99 USD).