Choose Inline
Choose Inline if you want an Indie experience. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. Inline launched in 2018.
Inline vs Zen Chess: Blindfold Masters
Inline and Zen Chess: Blindfold Masters both land in Strategy, 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 Strategy, Casual on Steam. Inline (2018) is 1 year older than Zen Chess: Blindfold Masters (2019). Inline scores higher on Steam reviews (96.4% positive) than Zen Chess: Blindfold Masters (73.3% 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 Zen Chess: Blindfold Masters
Choose Zen Chess: Blindfold Masters if it matches what drew you to this matchup. Zen Chess: Blindfold Masters launched in 2019.
Both Inline and Zen Chess: Blindfold Masters sit in Strategy 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
 Inline |  Zen Chess: Blindfold Masters | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2018 | 2019 |
| Genres | Strategy, Indie, Casual | Strategy, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | Free to play | 0.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 96.4% positive (83 reviews) | 73.3% positive (15 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Light Bringer Games inc. | Minimol Games |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Casual on Steam.
- Inline (2018) is 1 year older than Zen Chess: Blindfold Masters (2019).
- Inline scores higher on Steam reviews (96.4% positive) than Zen Chess: Blindfold Masters (73.3% positive).
- Inline is free; Zen Chess: Blindfold Masters is paid (0.99 USD).
- Inline is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; Zen Chess: Blindfold Masters has no Deck rating yet.
Inline vs Zen Chess: Blindfold Masters — FAQ
- Should I play Inline or Zen Chess: Blindfold Masters first?
- If you want chronology, Inline (2018) came out before Zen Chess: Blindfold Masters (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 Inline and Zen Chess: Blindfold Masters similar?
- They overlap on Strategy, 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.
- Is Inline free?
- Yes — Inline is a free-to-play Steam title. Zen Chess: Blindfold Masters is paid (0.99 USD).
- Does Inline run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Inline is rated Deck Playable by Valve. Zen Chess: Blindfold Masters doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.