Choose The Alpha Device
Choose The Alpha Device if you want an Action 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 Things Too Ugly
The Alpha Device and Things Too Ugly both land in Indie, Adventure, Simulation 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 Indie, Adventure, Simulation on Steam. The Alpha Device (2018) is 7 years older than Things Too Ugly (2025). Things Too Ugly scores higher on Steam reviews (91.1% positive) than The Alpha Device (67.6% 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 Things Too Ugly
Choose Things Too Ugly if it's the newer release (2025) and ships with the modern feature baseline. Things Too Ugly launched in 2025.
Both The Alpha Device and Things Too Ugly sit in Indie, Adventure, and Simulation 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 |  Things Too Ugly | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2018 | 2025 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Adventure, Simulation, Casual | Indie, Adventure, Simulation |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Unrated |
| Price | Free to play | 7.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 67.6% positive (71 reviews) | 91.1% positive (45 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Xiotex Studios Ltd | Professor Space Games |
Side by side
- Both share Indie, Adventure, Simulation on Steam.
- The Alpha Device (2018) is 7 years older than Things Too Ugly (2025).
- Things Too Ugly scores higher on Steam reviews (91.1% positive) than The Alpha Device (67.6% positive).
- The Alpha Device is free; Things Too Ugly is paid (7.99 USD).
The Alpha Device vs Things Too Ugly — FAQ
- Should I play The Alpha Device or Things Too Ugly first?
- If you want chronology, The Alpha Device (2018) came out before Things Too Ugly (2025). 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 Things Too Ugly similar?
- They overlap on Indie, Adventure, Simulation 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. Things Too Ugly is paid (7.99 USD).