Choose CrownFall
Choose CrownFall if it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. CrownFall launched in 2017.
CrownFall vs Retromancer
CrownFall and Retromancer both land in Action, 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 Action, Indie on Steam. CrownFall (2017) is 2 years older than Retromancer (2019). CrownFall is free; Retromancer is paid (2.99 USD). 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 Retromancer
Choose Retromancer if you want the Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen, and Steam Leaderboards side of the pairing. On Steam, it has co-op, so you can bring a friend. Retromancer launched in 2019.
Both CrownFall and Retromancer sit in Action and Indie 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
 CrownFall |  Retromancer | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2017 | 2019 |
| Genres | Action, Indie | Action, Indie |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows, macOS |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Unrated |
| Price | Free to play | 2.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 53.8% positive (13 reviews) | 2 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | EnchantedLands, Oddeyefish | Spinfoam Games |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie on Steam.
- CrownFall (2017) is 2 years older than Retromancer (2019).
- CrownFall is free; Retromancer is paid (2.99 USD).
- Retromancer has co-op; CrownFall does not.
CrownFall vs Retromancer — FAQ
- Should I play CrownFall or Retromancer first?
- If you want chronology, CrownFall (2017) came out before Retromancer (2019). 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 CrownFall and Retromancer similar?
- They overlap on Action, 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 CrownFall have multiplayer like Retromancer?
- No. Retromancer supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op), while CrownFall is listed as single-player only.
- Is CrownFall free?
- Yes — CrownFall is a free-to-play Steam title. Retromancer is paid (2.99 USD).