Choose Whispers of a Machine
Choose Whispers of a Machine if it's currently about 40% cheaper on the Steam Store. Whispers of a Machine launched in 2019.
Whispers of a Machine vs Chinatown Detective Agency
Whispers of a Machine and Chinatown Detective Agency both land in 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 are Adventure games on Steam. Whispers of a Machine (2019) is 3 years older than Chinatown Detective Agency (2022). Whispers of a Machine scores higher on Steam reviews (93.9% positive) than Chinatown Detective Agency (73.4% 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 Chinatown Detective Agency
Choose Chinatown Detective Agency if it's the newer release (2022) and ships with the modern feature baseline. Chinatown Detective Agency launched in 2022.
Both Whispers of a Machine and Chinatown Detective Agency sit in 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
 Whispers of a Machine |  Chinatown Detective Agency | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2019 | 2022 |
| Genres | Adventure | Adventure |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Windows, macOS |
| Steam Deck | Deck Unsupported | Deck Playable |
| Price | 14.99 USD | 24.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 93.9% positive (995 reviews) | 73.4% positive (79 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Clifftop Games, Faravid Interactive | General Interactive Co. |
Side by side
- Both are Adventure games on Steam.
- Whispers of a Machine (2019) is 3 years older than Chinatown Detective Agency (2022).
- Whispers of a Machine scores higher on Steam reviews (93.9% positive) than Chinatown Detective Agency (73.4% positive).
- Whispers of a Machine is currently ~40% cheaper on Steam than Chinatown Detective Agency (14.99 USD vs. 24.99 USD).
- Steam Deck: Whispers of a Machine is Deck Unsupported, Chinatown Detective Agency is Deck Playable.
Whispers of a Machine vs Chinatown Detective Agency — FAQ
- Should I play Whispers of a Machine or Chinatown Detective Agency first?
- If you want chronology, Whispers of a Machine (2019) came out before Chinatown Detective Agency (2022). 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 Whispers of a Machine and Chinatown Detective Agency similar?
- They overlap on 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.