Choose Ascender
Choose Ascender if it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. Ascender launched in 2017.
Ascender vs Smelted Kin
Ascender and Smelted Kin 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. Ascender (2017) is 3 years older than Smelted Kin (2020). Smelted Kin is currently ~44% cheaper on Steam than Ascender (4.99 USD vs. 8.99 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 Smelted Kin
Choose Smelted Kin if you want an Action experience. On Steam, it's currently about 44% cheaper on the Steam Store. Smelted Kin launched in 2020.
Both Ascender and Smelted Kin 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
 Ascender |  Smelted Kin | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2017 | 2020 |
| Genres | Indie, Adventure | Action, Indie, Adventure |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Unrated |
| Price | 8.99 USD | 4.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 5 reviews | 4 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | GameChanger Studio | Microbat Studio |
Side by side
- Both share Indie, Adventure on Steam.
- Ascender (2017) is 3 years older than Smelted Kin (2020).
- Smelted Kin is currently ~44% cheaper on Steam than Ascender (4.99 USD vs. 8.99 USD).
- Ascender is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Smelted Kin has no Deck rating yet.
Ascender vs Smelted Kin — FAQ
- Should I play Ascender or Smelted Kin first?
- If you want chronology, Ascender (2017) came out before Smelted Kin (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 Ascender and Smelted Kin 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 Ascender run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Ascender is rated Deck Verified by Valve. Smelted Kin doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.