Choose Polterheist
Choose Polterheist if you want a Simulation experience. Polterheist launched in 2017.
Polterheist vs Tainted Pools
Polterheist and Tainted Pools 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. Polterheist (2017) is 8 years older than Tainted Pools (2025). Tainted Pools is currently ~20% cheaper on Steam than Polterheist (3.99 USD vs. 4.99 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 Tainted Pools
Choose Tainted Pools if it's currently about 20% cheaper on the Steam Store. Tainted Pools launched in 2025.
Both Polterheist and Tainted Pools sit in Action and Indie 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
 Polterheist |  Tainted Pools | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2017 | 2025 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Simulation | Action, Indie |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Unrated |
| Price | 4.99 USD | 3.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 16.3% positive (86 reviews) | — |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | BisquitPlay | Stray Fox Games |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie on Steam.
- Polterheist (2017) is 8 years older than Tainted Pools (2025).
- Tainted Pools is currently ~20% cheaper on Steam than Polterheist (3.99 USD vs. 4.99 USD).
Polterheist vs Tainted Pools — FAQ
- Should I play Polterheist or Tainted Pools first?
- If you want chronology, Polterheist (2017) came out before Tainted Pools (2025). 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 Polterheist and Tainted Pools 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.