Choose Outbreak
Choose Outbreak if you want the Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen, and Online Co-op side of the pairing. On Steam, it has co-op, so you can bring a friend. Outbreak launched in 2017.
Outbreak vs Outbreak: The Nightmare Chronicles
Outbreak and Outbreak: The Nightmare Chronicles both land in Action, 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 Action, Indie, Adventure on Steam. Outbreak (2017) is 1 year older than Outbreak: The Nightmare Chronicles (2018). Outbreak: The Nightmare Chronicles scores higher on Steam reviews (76.4% positive) than Outbreak (64.9% 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 Outbreak: The Nightmare Chronicles
Choose Outbreak: The Nightmare Chronicles if you want a Strategy experience. On Steam, it's currently about 50% cheaper on the Steam Store. Outbreak: The Nightmare Chronicles launched in 2018.
Both Outbreak and Outbreak: The Nightmare Chronicles sit in Action, 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
 Outbreak |  Outbreak: The Nightmare Chronicles | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2017 | 2018 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Adventure, RPG | Action, Strategy, Indie, Adventure, RPG |
| Platforms | Windows, Linux | Windows, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | 9.99 USD | 4.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 64.9% positive (77 reviews) | 76.4% positive (55 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Shared/Split Screen Co-op | Single-player only |
| Developers | Dead Drop Studios LLC | Dead Drop Studios LLC |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie, Adventure on Steam.
- Outbreak (2017) is 1 year older than Outbreak: The Nightmare Chronicles (2018).
- Outbreak: The Nightmare Chronicles scores higher on Steam reviews (76.4% positive) than Outbreak (64.9% positive).
- Outbreak: The Nightmare Chronicles is currently ~50% cheaper on Steam than Outbreak (4.99 USD vs. 9.99 USD).
- Outbreak has co-op; Outbreak: The Nightmare Chronicles does not.
- Outbreak is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; Outbreak: The Nightmare Chronicles has no Deck rating yet.
Outbreak vs Outbreak: The Nightmare Chronicles — FAQ
- Should I play Outbreak or Outbreak: The Nightmare Chronicles first?
- If you want chronology, Outbreak (2017) came out before Outbreak: The Nightmare Chronicles (2018). 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 Outbreak and Outbreak: The Nightmare Chronicles similar?
- They overlap on Action, 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.
- Does Outbreak: The Nightmare Chronicles have multiplayer like Outbreak?
- No. Outbreak supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player, Online Co-op, Shared/Split Screen Co-op), while Outbreak: The Nightmare Chronicles is listed as single-player only.
- Does Outbreak run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Outbreak is rated Deck Playable by Valve. Outbreak: The Nightmare Chronicles doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.