Choose Wonder Boy Returns
Choose Wonder Boy Returns if you want a Casual experience. Wonder Boy Returns launched in 2016.
Wonder Boy Returns vs Sonic Forces
Wonder Boy Returns and Sonic Forces both land in Action 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 Action games on Steam. Wonder Boy Returns (2016) is 1 year older than Sonic Forces (2017). Wonder Boy Returns scores higher on Steam reviews (68.4% positive) than Sonic Forces (56.1% 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 Sonic Forces
Choose Sonic Forces if you want an Adventure experience. On Steam, it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. 3,909 Steam reviews back the pick.
Both Wonder Boy Returns and Sonic Forces sit in Action 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
 Wonder Boy Returns |  Sonic Forces | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2016 | 2017 |
| Genres | Action, Casual | Action, Adventure |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Deck Verified |
| Price | Price unknown | 39.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 68.4% positive (38 reviews) | 56.1% positive (3,909 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | CFK Co., Ltd. | Sonic Team, Hardlight |
Side by side
- Both are Action games on Steam.
- Wonder Boy Returns (2016) is 1 year older than Sonic Forces (2017).
- Wonder Boy Returns scores higher on Steam reviews (68.4% positive) than Sonic Forces (56.1% positive).
- Sonic Forces is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Wonder Boy Returns has no Deck rating yet.
Wonder Boy Returns vs Sonic Forces — FAQ
- Should I play Wonder Boy Returns or Sonic Forces first?
- If you want chronology, Wonder Boy Returns (2016) came out before Sonic Forces (2017). 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 Wonder Boy Returns and Sonic Forces similar?
- They overlap on Action 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.