Choose Beholder 2
Choose Beholder 2 if it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. 1,028 Steam reviews back the pick.
Beholder 2 vs Through the Darkest of Times
Beholder 2 and Through the Darkest of Times both land in Strategy, Indie, 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 Strategy, Indie, Adventure on Steam. Beholder 2 (2018) is 2 years older than Through the Darkest of Times (2020). Through the Darkest of Times scores higher on Steam reviews (84.9% positive) than Beholder 2 (82.4% 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 Through the Darkest of Times
Choose Through the Darkest of Times if it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 84.9% positive across 272 reviews.
Both Beholder 2 and Through the Darkest of Times sit in Strategy, Indie, and Adventure 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
 Beholder 2 |  Through the Darkest of Times | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2018 | 2020 |
| Genres | Strategy, Indie, Adventure, Simulation | Strategy, Indie, Adventure, Simulation |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Deck Playable |
| Price | 17.99 USD | 14.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 82.4% positive (1,028 reviews) | 84.9% positive (272 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Alawar Stargaze (Warm Lamp Games) | Paintbucket Games |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Indie, Adventure on Steam.
- Beholder 2 (2018) is 2 years older than Through the Darkest of Times (2020).
- Through the Darkest of Times scores higher on Steam reviews (84.9% positive) than Beholder 2 (82.4% positive).
- Through the Darkest of Times is currently ~17% cheaper on Steam than Beholder 2 (14.99 USD vs. 17.99 USD).
- Steam Deck: Beholder 2 is Deck Verified, Through the Darkest of Times is Deck Playable.
Beholder 2 vs Through the Darkest of Times — FAQ
- Which is better, Beholder 2 or Through the Darkest of Times?
- On Steam reviews Through the Darkest of Times scores higher (84.9% positive) than Beholder 2 (82.4% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, Through the Darkest of Times is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.
- Should I play Beholder 2 or Through the Darkest of Times first?
- If you want chronology, Beholder 2 (2018) came out before Through the Darkest of Times (2020). 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 Beholder 2 and Through the Darkest of Times similar?
- They overlap on Strategy, Indie, 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.