Choose Diamond Joyce and the Secret of Crystal Cave
Choose Diamond Joyce and the Secret of Crystal Cave if it matches what drew you to this matchup. Diamond Joyce and the Secret of Crystal Cave launched in 2016.
Diamond Joyce and the Secret of Crystal Cave vs The Gardener
Diamond Joyce and the Secret of Crystal Cave and The Gardener both land in Strategy, Indie, Adventure 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 Strategy, Indie, Adventure on Steam. Diamond Joyce and the Secret of Crystal Cave (2016) is 10 years older than The Gardener (2026). 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 The Gardener
Choose The Gardener if you want the Camera Comfort, Custom Volume Controls, and Playable without Timed Input side of the pairing. On Steam, it's the newer release (2026) and ships with the modern feature baseline. The Gardener launched in 2026.
Both Diamond Joyce and the Secret of Crystal Cave and The Gardener sit in Strategy, Indie, and Adventure 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
 Diamond Joyce and the Secret of Crystal Cave |  The Gardener | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2016 | 2026 |
| Genres | Strategy, Indie, Adventure, Casual | Strategy, Indie, Adventure, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Unrated |
| Price | 5.99 USD | Price unknown |
| Steam reviews | 100% positive (13 reviews) | — |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Rake in Grass | Adam C-W |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Indie, Adventure on Steam.
- Diamond Joyce and the Secret of Crystal Cave (2016) is 10 years older than The Gardener (2026).
Diamond Joyce and the Secret of Crystal Cave vs The Gardener — FAQ
- Should I play Diamond Joyce and the Secret of Crystal Cave or The Gardener first?
- If you want chronology, Diamond Joyce and the Secret of Crystal Cave (2016) came out before The Gardener (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 Diamond Joyce and the Secret of Crystal Cave and The Gardener similar?
- They overlap on Strategy, Indie, Adventure 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.