Choose Secret of Mana
Choose Secret of Mana if you want an Action game with Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen PvP, and Shared/Split Screen Co-op. On Steam, it has co-op, so you can bring a friend. 1,436 Steam reviews back the pick.
Secret of Mana vs Trials of Mana
Secret of Mana and Trials of Mana both land in RPG 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 RPG games on Steam. Secret of Mana (2018) is 2 years older than Trials of Mana (2020). Trials of Mana scores higher on Steam reviews (92.3% positive) than Secret of Mana (70.6% 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 Trials of Mana
Choose Trials of Mana if you want the Stereo Sound, Playable without Timed Input, and Adjustable Difficulty side of the pairing. On Steam, it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 92.3% positive across 2,194 reviews.
Both Secret of Mana and Trials of Mana sit in RPG on Steam and both list Custom Volume Controls, 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
 Secret of Mana |  Trials of Mana | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2018 | 2020 |
| Genres | Action, RPG | RPG |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Deck Verified |
| Price | 15.99 USD | 14.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 70.6% positive (1,436 reviews) | 92.3% positive (2,194 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op | Single-player only |
| Developers | Square Enix | Square Enix |
Side by side
- Both are RPG games on Steam.
- Secret of Mana (2018) is 2 years older than Trials of Mana (2020).
- Trials of Mana scores higher on Steam reviews (92.3% positive) than Secret of Mana (70.6% positive).
- Trials of Mana is currently ~6% cheaper on Steam than Secret of Mana (14.99 USD vs. 15.99 USD).
- Secret of Mana has co-op; Trials of Mana does not.
- Steam Deck: Secret of Mana is Deck Playable, Trials of Mana is Deck Verified.
Secret of Mana vs Trials of Mana — FAQ
- Which is better, Secret of Mana or Trials of Mana?
- On Steam reviews Trials of Mana scores higher (92.3% positive) than Secret of Mana (70.6% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, Trials of Mana is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.
- Should I play Secret of Mana or Trials of Mana first?
- If you want chronology, Secret of Mana (2018) came out before Trials of Mana (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 Secret of Mana and Trials of Mana similar?
- They overlap on RPG 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 Trials of Mana have multiplayer like Secret of Mana?
- No. Secret of Mana supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op), while Trials of Mana is listed as single-player only.