Choose ROUTINE
Choose ROUTINE if it matches what drew you to this matchup. 4,122 Steam reviews back the pick.
ROUTINE vs The Guard
ROUTINE and The Guard both land in Action, 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 Action, Indie, Adventure on Steam. The Guard (2023) is 2 years older than ROUTINE (2025). ROUTINE scores higher on Steam reviews (93.2% positive) than The Guard (60.3% 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 The Guard
Choose The Guard if you want a Simulation experience. On Steam, it's currently about 96% cheaper on the Steam Store. The Guard launched in 2023.
Both ROUTINE and The Guard sit in Action, 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
 ROUTINE |  The Guard | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2025 | 2023 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Adventure | Action, Indie, Adventure, Simulation |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | 24.99 USD | 0.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 93.2% positive (4,122 reviews) | 60.3% positive (63 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Lunar Software | STuNT |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie, Adventure on Steam.
- The Guard (2023) is 2 years older than ROUTINE (2025).
- ROUTINE scores higher on Steam reviews (93.2% positive) than The Guard (60.3% positive).
- The Guard is currently ~96% cheaper on Steam than ROUTINE (0.99 USD vs. 24.99 USD).
- ROUTINE is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; The Guard has no Deck rating yet.
ROUTINE vs The Guard — FAQ
- Should I play ROUTINE or The Guard first?
- If you want chronology, The Guard (2023) came out before ROUTINE (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 ROUTINE and The Guard similar?
- They overlap on Action, 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 ROUTINE run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — ROUTINE is rated Deck Playable by Valve. The Guard doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.