Choose SHENZHEN I/O
Choose SHENZHEN I/O if you want an Indie experience. 2,198 Steam reviews back the pick.
SHENZHEN I/O vs ProxOS
SHENZHEN I/O and ProxOS both land in Simulation 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 Simulation games on Steam. SHENZHEN I/O (2016) is 8 years older than ProxOS (2024). SHENZHEN I/O scores higher on Steam reviews (95.2% positive) than ProxOS (92.3% 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 ProxOS
Choose ProxOS if it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. ProxOS launched in 2024.
Both SHENZHEN I/O and ProxOS sit in Simulation on Steam and both list Steam Leaderboards, 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
 SHENZHEN I/O |  ProxOS | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2016 | 2024 |
| Genres | Indie, Simulation | Simulation |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Deck Playable |
| Price | 14.99 USD | Free to play |
| Steam reviews | 95.2% positive (2,198 reviews) | 92.3% positive (13 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Zachtronics | slojanko |
Side by side
- Both are Simulation games on Steam.
- SHENZHEN I/O (2016) is 8 years older than ProxOS (2024).
- SHENZHEN I/O scores higher on Steam reviews (95.2% positive) than ProxOS (92.3% positive).
- ProxOS is free; SHENZHEN I/O is paid (14.99 USD).
- Both are Deck Playable.
SHENZHEN I/O vs ProxOS — FAQ
- Should I play SHENZHEN I/O or ProxOS first?
- If you want chronology, SHENZHEN I/O (2016) came out before ProxOS (2024). 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 SHENZHEN I/O and ProxOS similar?
- They overlap on Simulation 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 ProxOS free?
- Yes — ProxOS is a free-to-play Steam title. SHENZHEN I/O is paid (14.99 USD).