Choose Tower 57
Choose Tower 57 if you want an Indie game with Online Co-op. Tower 57 launched in 2017.
Tower 57 vs Bartlow's Dread Machine
Tower 57 and Bartlow's Dread Machine 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. Tower 57 (2017) is 3 years older than Bartlow's Dread Machine (2020). Bartlow's Dread Machine scores higher on Steam reviews (80% positive) than Tower 57 (65.1% 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 Bartlow's Dread Machine
Choose Bartlow's Dread Machine if it's currently about 50% cheaper on the Steam Store. Bartlow's Dread Machine launched in 2020.
Both Tower 57 and Bartlow's Dread Machine sit in Action on Steam and both list Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen, and Shared/Split Screen Co-op, 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
 Tower 57 |  Bartlow's Dread Machine | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2017 | 2020 |
| Genres | Action, Indie | Action |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Deck Unsupported |
| Price | 11.99 USD | 5.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 65.1% positive (172 reviews) | 80% positive (15 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Shared/Split Screen Co-op | Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | Pixwerk | Beep Games, Inc., Tribetoy |
Side by side
- Both are Action games on Steam.
- Tower 57 (2017) is 3 years older than Bartlow's Dread Machine (2020).
- Bartlow's Dread Machine scores higher on Steam reviews (80% positive) than Tower 57 (65.1% positive).
- Bartlow's Dread Machine is currently ~50% cheaper on Steam than Tower 57 (5.99 USD vs. 11.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
- Steam Deck: Tower 57 is Deck Playable, Bartlow's Dread Machine is Deck Unsupported.
Tower 57 vs Bartlow's Dread Machine — FAQ
- Should I play Tower 57 or Bartlow's Dread Machine first?
- If you want chronology, Tower 57 (2017) came out before Bartlow's Dread Machine (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 Tower 57 and Bartlow's Dread Machine 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.
- Do both Tower 57 and Bartlow's Dread Machine have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: Tower 57 ships Online Co-op, Shared/Split Screen Co-op; Bartlow's Dread Machine ships Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op.