IMHO.

Wonder Boy Returns vs Projection: First Light

Wonder Boy Returns and Projection: First Light both land in Action, Casual 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, Casual on Steam. Wonder Boy Returns (2016) is 4 years older than Projection: First Light (2020). 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 Wonder Boy Returns

Choose Wonder Boy Returns if it matches what drew you to this matchup. Wonder Boy Returns launched in 2016.

Choose Projection: First Light

Choose Projection: First Light if you want an Indie and Adventure experience. On Steam, it's the newer release (2020) and ships with the modern feature baseline. Projection: First Light launched in 2020.

Both Wonder Boy Returns and Projection: First Light sit in Action and Casual 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 vs Projection: First Light — Steam metadata comparison
Wonder Boy Returns — Steam game coverWonder Boy ReturnsProjection: First Light — Steam game coverProjection: First Light
Released20162020
GenresAction, CasualAction, Indie, Adventure, Casual
PlatformsWindowsWindows
Steam DeckUnratedUnrated
PricePrice unknown19.99 USD
Steam reviews68.4% positive (38 reviews)5 reviews
MultiplayerSingle-player onlySingle-player only
DevelopersCFK Co., Ltd.Shadowplay Studios, Sweaty Chair, Blowfish Studios

Side by side

Wonder Boy Returns vs Projection: First Light — FAQ

Should I play Wonder Boy Returns or Projection: First Light first?
If you want chronology, Wonder Boy Returns (2016) came out before Projection: First Light (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 Wonder Boy Returns and Projection: First Light similar?
They overlap on Action, Casual 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.
Wonder Boy Returns vs Projection: First Light (2026) · imho.run