Choose pixelBOT EXTREME!
Choose pixelBOT EXTREME! if you want an Indie experience. On Steam, it's currently about 50% cheaper on the Steam Store. pixelBOT EXTREME! launched in 2018.
pixelBOT EXTREME! vs Contra Anniversary Collection
pixelBOT EXTREME! and Contra Anniversary Collection both land in Action 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 are Action games on Steam. pixelBOT EXTREME! (2018) is 1 year older than Contra Anniversary Collection (2019). pixelBOT EXTREME! scores higher on Steam reviews (92.9% positive) than Contra Anniversary Collection (76.3% 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 Contra Anniversary Collection
Choose Contra Anniversary Collection if you want the Keyboard Only Option and Save Anytime side of the pairing. On Steam, it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. Contra Anniversary Collection launched in 2019.
Both pixelBOT EXTREME! and Contra Anniversary Collection sit in Action on Steam and both list Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen, and Shared/Split Screen Co-op, 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
 pixelBOT EXTREME! |  Contra Anniversary Collection | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2018 | 2019 |
| Genres | Action, Indie | Action |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Deck Verified |
| Price | 9.99 USD | 19.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 92.9% positive (14 reviews) | 76.3% positive (477 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op | Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | PlayHeart Games | KONAMI |
Side by side
- Both are Action games on Steam.
- pixelBOT EXTREME! (2018) is 1 year older than Contra Anniversary Collection (2019).
- pixelBOT EXTREME! scores higher on Steam reviews (92.9% positive) than Contra Anniversary Collection (76.3% positive).
- pixelBOT EXTREME! is currently ~50% cheaper on Steam than Contra Anniversary Collection (9.99 USD vs. 19.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
- Contra Anniversary Collection is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; pixelBOT EXTREME! has no Deck rating yet.
pixelBOT EXTREME! vs Contra Anniversary Collection — FAQ
- Should I play pixelBOT EXTREME! or Contra Anniversary Collection first?
- If you want chronology, pixelBOT EXTREME! (2018) came out before Contra Anniversary Collection (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 pixelBOT EXTREME! and Contra Anniversary Collection similar?
- They overlap on Action 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.
- Do both pixelBOT EXTREME! and Contra Anniversary Collection have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: pixelBOT EXTREME! ships Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op; Contra Anniversary Collection ships Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op.