Choose Ashen
Choose Ashen if you want a RPG experience. 1,635 Steam reviews back the pick.
Ashen vs Estencel
Ashen and Estencel both land in Action, 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, Adventure on Steam. Ashen (2019) is 4 years older than Estencel (2023). Estencel scores higher on Steam reviews (69% positive) than Ashen (66.8% 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 Estencel
Choose Estencel if you want an Indie and Massively Multiplayer game with LAN Co-op. On Steam, it's currently about 98% cheaper on the Steam Store. Estencel launched in 2023.
Both Ashen and Estencel sit in Action and Adventure on Steam and both list Multi-player, Online Co-op, and Co-op, 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
 Ashen |  Estencel | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2019 | 2023 |
| Genres | Action, Adventure, RPG | Action, Indie, Adventure, Massively Multiplayer |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Deck Verified |
| Price | 39.99 USD | 0.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 66.8% positive (1,635 reviews) | 69% positive (71 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op | Multi-player, Online Co-op, LAN Co-op |
| Developers | A44 | Rone Vine |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Adventure on Steam.
- Ashen (2019) is 4 years older than Estencel (2023).
- Estencel scores higher on Steam reviews (69% positive) than Ashen (66.8% positive).
- Estencel is currently ~98% cheaper on Steam than Ashen (0.99 USD vs. 39.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
- Steam Deck: Ashen is Deck Playable, Estencel is Deck Verified.
Ashen vs Estencel — FAQ
- Should I play Ashen or Estencel first?
- If you want chronology, Ashen (2019) came out before Estencel (2023). 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 Ashen and Estencel similar?
- They overlap on Action, 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.
- Do both Ashen and Estencel have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: Ashen ships Online Co-op, Co-op; Estencel ships Online Co-op, LAN Co-op.