Choose The Escapists 2
Choose The Escapists 2 if you want a Simulation game with Steam Leaderboards, Online Co-op, and Shared/Split Screen Co-op. On Steam, it's currently about 37% cheaper on the Steam Store. 11,196 Steam reviews back the pick.
The Escapists 2 vs Classic Board Games Collection: Go, Xiangqi, Chess, Gomoku & Reversi
The Escapists 2 and Classic Board Games Collection: Go, Xiangqi, Chess, Gomoku & Reversi both land in 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 Strategy, Indie on Steam. The Escapists 2 (2017) is 9 years older than Classic Board Games Collection: Go, Xiangqi, Chess, Gomoku & Reversi (2026). Classic Board Games Collection: Go, Xiangqi, Chess, Gomoku & Reversi scores higher on Steam reviews (100% positive) than The Escapists 2 (91% 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 Classic Board Games Collection: Go, Xiangqi, Chess, Gomoku & Reversi
Choose Classic Board Games Collection: Go, Xiangqi, Chess, Gomoku & Reversi if you want a Casual experience. On Steam, it's the newer release (2026) and ships with the modern feature baseline. Classic Board Games Collection: Go, Xiangqi, Chess, Gomoku & Reversi launched in 2026.
Both The Escapists 2 and Classic Board Games Collection: Go, Xiangqi, Chess, Gomoku & Reversi sit in Strategy and Indie on Steam and both list Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen, and Online PvP, 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
 The Escapists 2 |  Classic Board Games Collection: Go, Xiangqi, Chess, Gomoku & Reversi | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2017 | 2026 |
| Genres | Strategy, Indie, Simulation | Strategy, Indie, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | 5.39 USD | 8.49 USD |
| Steam reviews | 91% positive (11,196 reviews) | 100% positive (14 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Shared/Split Screen Co-op | Multi-player |
| Developers | Team17, Mouldy Toof Studios | Pixel Dance |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Indie on Steam.
- The Escapists 2 (2017) is 9 years older than Classic Board Games Collection: Go, Xiangqi, Chess, Gomoku & Reversi (2026).
- Classic Board Games Collection: Go, Xiangqi, Chess, Gomoku & Reversi scores higher on Steam reviews (100% positive) than The Escapists 2 (91% positive).
- The Escapists 2 is currently ~37% cheaper on Steam than Classic Board Games Collection: Go, Xiangqi, Chess, Gomoku & Reversi (5.39 USD vs. 8.49 USD).
- The Escapists 2 has co-op; Classic Board Games Collection: Go, Xiangqi, Chess, Gomoku & Reversi does not.
- The Escapists 2 is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; Classic Board Games Collection: Go, Xiangqi, Chess, Gomoku & Reversi has no Deck rating yet.
The Escapists 2 vs Classic Board Games Collection: Go, Xiangqi, Chess, Gomoku & Reversi — FAQ
- Should I play The Escapists 2 or Classic Board Games Collection: Go, Xiangqi, Chess, Gomoku & Reversi first?
- If you want chronology, The Escapists 2 (2017) came out before Classic Board Games Collection: Go, Xiangqi, Chess, Gomoku & Reversi (2026). 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 The Escapists 2 and Classic Board Games Collection: Go, Xiangqi, Chess, Gomoku & Reversi similar?
- They overlap on 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 The Escapists 2 run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — The Escapists 2 is rated Deck Playable by Valve. Classic Board Games Collection: Go, Xiangqi, Chess, Gomoku & Reversi doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.