Choose The Messenger
Choose The Messenger if it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. 4,662 Steam reviews back the pick.
The Messenger vs Beardy McStrongarm
The Messenger and Beardy McStrongarm 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. The Messenger (2018) is 2 years older than Beardy McStrongarm (2020). The Messenger scores higher on Steam reviews (92.5% positive) than Beardy McStrongarm (81.8% 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 Beardy McStrongarm
Choose Beardy McStrongarm if you want a Free To Play experience. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. Beardy McStrongarm launched in 2020.
Both The Messenger and Beardy McStrongarm 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
 The Messenger |  Beardy McStrongarm | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2018 | 2020 |
| Genres | Action, Indie | Action, Indie, Free To Play |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Deck Playable |
| Price | 19.99 USD | Free to play |
| Steam reviews | 92.5% positive (4,662 reviews) | 81.8% positive (11 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Sabotage | Blekoh |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie on Steam.
- The Messenger (2018) is 2 years older than Beardy McStrongarm (2020).
- The Messenger scores higher on Steam reviews (92.5% positive) than Beardy McStrongarm (81.8% positive).
- Beardy McStrongarm is free; The Messenger is paid (19.99 USD).
- Steam Deck: The Messenger is Deck Verified, Beardy McStrongarm is Deck Playable.
The Messenger vs Beardy McStrongarm — FAQ
- Should I play The Messenger or Beardy McStrongarm first?
- If you want chronology, The Messenger (2018) came out before Beardy McStrongarm (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 The Messenger and Beardy McStrongarm 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.
- Is Beardy McStrongarm free?
- Yes — Beardy McStrongarm is a free-to-play Steam title. The Messenger is paid (19.99 USD).