Choose Direct
Choose Direct if it matches what drew you to this matchup. Direct launched in 2017.
Direct vs Pivot XL
Direct and Pivot XL both land in Action, Indie, Casual 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, Casual on Steam. Direct (2017) is 1 year older than Pivot XL (2018). Pivot XL scores higher on Steam reviews (93.2% positive) than Direct (48% 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 Pivot XL
Choose Pivot XL if you want the Steam Leaderboards side of the pairing. Pivot XL launched in 2018.
Both Direct and Pivot XL sit in Action, Indie, and Casual 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
 Direct |  Pivot XL | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2017 | 2018 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Casual | Action, Indie, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Unrated |
| Price | 0.99 USD | 0.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 48% positive (25 reviews) | 93.2% positive (118 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | ToastieLabs | Adamvision Studios |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie, Casual on Steam.
- Direct (2017) is 1 year older than Pivot XL (2018).
- Pivot XL scores higher on Steam reviews (93.2% positive) than Direct (48% positive).
- Pivot XL is currently ~0% cheaper on Steam than Direct (0.99 USD vs. 0.99 USD).
Direct vs Pivot XL — FAQ
- Should I play Direct or Pivot XL first?
- If you want chronology, Direct (2017) came out before Pivot XL (2018). 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 Direct and Pivot XL similar?
- They overlap on Action, Indie, Casual 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.