Choose Barotrauma
Choose Barotrauma if you want the Multi-player, Online PvP, and Online Co-op side of the pairing. On Steam, it has co-op, so you can bring a friend. 27,564 Steam reviews back the pick.
Barotrauma vs Sunken Veins
Barotrauma and Sunken Veins both land in Action, Strategy, 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, Strategy, Indie on Steam. Barotrauma (2023) is 2 years older than Sunken Veins (2025). Sunken Veins scores higher on Steam reviews (100% positive) than Barotrauma (95.4% 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 Sunken Veins
Choose Sunken Veins if you want an Early Access experience. On Steam, it's currently about 49% cheaper on the Steam Store. Sunken Veins launched in 2025.
Both Barotrauma and Sunken Veins sit in Action, Strategy, 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
 Barotrauma |  Sunken Veins | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2023 | 2025 |
| Genres | Action, Strategy, Indie, Simulation | Action, Strategy, Indie, Simulation, Early Access |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | 17.49 USD | 8.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 95.4% positive (27,564 reviews) | 100% positive (18 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op | Single-player only |
| Developers | FakeFish, Undertow Games | Skedaddle Games |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Strategy, Indie on Steam.
- Barotrauma (2023) is 2 years older than Sunken Veins (2025).
- Sunken Veins scores higher on Steam reviews (100% positive) than Barotrauma (95.4% positive).
- Sunken Veins is currently ~49% cheaper on Steam than Barotrauma (8.99 USD vs. 17.49 USD).
- Barotrauma has co-op; Sunken Veins does not.
- Barotrauma is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; Sunken Veins has no Deck rating yet.
Barotrauma vs Sunken Veins — FAQ
- Should I play Barotrauma or Sunken Veins first?
- If you want chronology, Barotrauma (2023) came out before Sunken Veins (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 Barotrauma and Sunken Veins similar?
- They overlap on Action, Strategy, 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.
- Does Sunken Veins have multiplayer like Barotrauma?
- No. Barotrauma supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op), while Sunken Veins is listed as single-player only.
- Does Barotrauma run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Barotrauma is rated Deck Playable by Valve. Sunken Veins doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.