Choose Pavlov
Choose Pavlov if you want the Tracked Controller Support and VR Only side of the pairing. On Steam, it's the newer release (2024) and ships with the modern feature baseline. 30,993 Steam reviews back the pick.
Pavlov vs Masked Forces 3
Pavlov and Masked Forces 3 both land in Action, Indie 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 on Steam. Masked Forces 3 (2018) is 6 years older than Pavlov (2024). Pavlov scores higher on Steam reviews (89.3% positive) than Masked Forces 3 (59.3% 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 Masked Forces 3
Choose Masked Forces 3 if you want the Steam Leaderboards side of the pairing. On Steam, it's currently about 80% cheaper on the Steam Store. Masked Forces 3 launched in 2018.
Both Pavlov and Masked Forces 3 sit in Action and Indie on Steam and both list Multi-player, Online PvP, and Online 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
 Pavlov |  Masked Forces 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2024 | 2018 |
| Genres | Action, Indie | Action, Indie |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Unsupported | Unrated |
| Price | 24.99 USD | 4.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 89.3% positive (30,993 reviews) | 59.3% positive (27 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | Vankrupt Games | FreezeNova |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie on Steam.
- Masked Forces 3 (2018) is 6 years older than Pavlov (2024).
- Pavlov scores higher on Steam reviews (89.3% positive) than Masked Forces 3 (59.3% positive).
- Masked Forces 3 is currently ~80% cheaper on Steam than Pavlov (4.99 USD vs. 24.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
- Pavlov is Deck Unsupported on Steam Deck; Masked Forces 3 has no Deck rating yet.
Pavlov vs Masked Forces 3 — FAQ
- Should I play Pavlov or Masked Forces 3 first?
- If you want chronology, Masked Forces 3 (2018) came out before Pavlov (2024). 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 Pavlov and Masked Forces 3 similar?
- They overlap on Action, Indie 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 Pavlov and Masked Forces 3 have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: Pavlov ships Online Co-op, Co-op; Masked Forces 3 ships Online Co-op, Co-op.