Choose Theory of Fear
Choose Theory of Fear if you want an Adventure and Simulation experience. Theory of Fear launched in 2017.
Theory of Fear vs Instinct
Theory of Fear and Instinct both land in Indie, Casual, Sexual Content 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, Casual, Sexual Content on Steam. Theory of Fear (2017) is 1 year older than Instinct (2018). Theory of Fear scores higher on Steam reviews (69.2% positive) than Instinct (61.3% 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 Instinct
Choose Instinct if you want an Action experience. On Steam, it's currently about 29% cheaper on the Steam Store. Instinct launched in 2018.
Both Theory of Fear and Instinct sit in Indie, Casual, and Sexual Content 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
 Theory of Fear |  Instinct | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2017 | 2018 |
| Genres | Indie, Adventure, Simulation, Casual, Sexual Content, Nudity, Violent | Action, Indie, Casual, Sexual Content, Nudity, Violent |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | 6.99 USD | 4.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 69.2% positive (39 reviews) | 61.3% positive (31 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | ANASTASI SUKHONOSOVA | VNeroGAMEs |
Side by side
- Both share Indie, Casual, Sexual Content on Steam.
- Theory of Fear (2017) is 1 year older than Instinct (2018).
- Theory of Fear scores higher on Steam reviews (69.2% positive) than Instinct (61.3% positive).
- Instinct is currently ~29% cheaper on Steam than Theory of Fear (4.99 USD vs. 6.99 USD).
- Theory of Fear is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; Instinct has no Deck rating yet.
Theory of Fear vs Instinct — FAQ
- Should I play Theory of Fear or Instinct first?
- If you want chronology, Theory of Fear (2017) came out before Instinct (2018). 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 Theory of Fear and Instinct similar?
- They overlap on Indie, Casual, Sexual Content 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 Theory of Fear run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Theory of Fear is rated Deck Playable by Valve. Instinct doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.