Choose Detention
Choose Detention if it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. 2,780 Steam reviews back the pick.
Detention vs Network
Detention and Network both land in Indie, Adventure 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 Indie, Adventure on Steam. Detention (2017) is 4 years older than Network (2021). Network is currently ~75% cheaper on Steam than Detention (2.99 USD vs. 11.99 USD). 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 Network
Choose Network if you want a RPG experience. On Steam, it's currently about 75% cheaper on the Steam Store. Network launched in 2021.
Both Detention and Network sit in Indie and Adventure 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
 Detention |  Network | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2017 | 2021 |
| Genres | Indie, Adventure | Indie, Adventure, RPG |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Unrated |
| Price | 11.99 USD | 2.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 96.3% positive (2,780 reviews) | 1 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | RedCandleGames | NetGames |
Side by side
- Both share Indie, Adventure on Steam.
- Detention (2017) is 4 years older than Network (2021).
- Network is currently ~75% cheaper on Steam than Detention (2.99 USD vs. 11.99 USD).
- Detention is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Network has no Deck rating yet.
Detention vs Network — FAQ
- Should I play Detention or Network first?
- If you want chronology, Detention (2017) came out before Network (2021). 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 Detention and Network similar?
- They overlap on Indie, Adventure 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.
- Does Detention run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Detention is rated Deck Verified by Valve. Network doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.