Choose Pavlov
Choose Pavlov if you want the Online Co-op, 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 Stick Arena
Pavlov and Stick Arena 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. Stick Arena (2018) is 6 years older than Pavlov (2024). Pavlov scores higher on Steam reviews (89.3% positive) than Stick Arena (60% 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 Stick Arena
Choose Stick Arena if you want a Free To Play experience. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. Stick Arena launched in 2018.
Both Pavlov and Stick Arena sit in Action and Indie on Steam and both list Multi-player, Online PvP, and PvP, 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 |  Stick Arena | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2024 | 2018 |
| Genres | Action, Indie | Action, Indie, Free To Play |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Unsupported | Unrated |
| Price | 24.99 USD | Free to play |
| Steam reviews | 89.3% positive (30,993 reviews) | 60% positive (85 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op | Multi-player |
| Developers | Vankrupt Games | XGen Studios |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie on Steam.
- Stick Arena (2018) is 6 years older than Pavlov (2024).
- Pavlov scores higher on Steam reviews (89.3% positive) than Stick Arena (60% positive).
- Stick Arena is free; Pavlov is paid (24.99 USD).
- Pavlov has co-op; Stick Arena does not.
- Pavlov is Deck Unsupported on Steam Deck; Stick Arena has no Deck rating yet.
Pavlov vs Stick Arena — FAQ
- Should I play Pavlov or Stick Arena first?
- If you want chronology, Stick Arena (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 Stick Arena 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.
- Is Stick Arena free?
- Yes — Stick Arena is a free-to-play Steam title. Pavlov is paid (24.99 USD).