Choose The Alpha Device
Choose The Alpha Device if you want a Simulation and Casual experience. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. The Alpha Device launched in 2018.
The Alpha Device vs Northern Lights
The Alpha Device and Northern Lights both land in Action, 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 Action, Indie, Adventure on Steam. The Alpha Device (2018) is 1 year older than Northern Lights (2019). The Alpha Device scores higher on Steam reviews (67.6% positive) than Northern Lights (42.9% 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 Northern Lights
Choose Northern Lights if it matches what drew you to this matchup. Northern Lights launched in 2019.
Both The Alpha Device and Northern Lights sit in Action, 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
 The Alpha Device |  Northern Lights | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2018 | 2019 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Adventure, Simulation, Casual | Action, Indie, Adventure |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Unrated |
| Price | Free to play | 1.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 67.6% positive (71 reviews) | 42.9% positive (28 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Xiotex Studios Ltd | DimleTeam |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie, Adventure on Steam.
- The Alpha Device (2018) is 1 year older than Northern Lights (2019).
- The Alpha Device scores higher on Steam reviews (67.6% positive) than Northern Lights (42.9% positive).
- The Alpha Device is free; Northern Lights is paid (1.99 USD).
The Alpha Device vs Northern Lights — FAQ
- Should I play The Alpha Device or Northern Lights first?
- If you want chronology, The Alpha Device (2018) came out before Northern Lights (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 The Alpha Device and Northern Lights similar?
- They overlap on Action, 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.
- Is The Alpha Device free?
- Yes — The Alpha Device is a free-to-play Steam title. Northern Lights is paid (1.99 USD).