Choose Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin
Choose Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin if it's currently about 33% cheaper on the Steam Store. Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin launched in 2018.
Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin vs Sam & Max: This Time It's Virtual!
Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin and Sam & Max: This Time It's Virtual! both land in 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 are Adventure games on Steam. Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin (2018) is 3 years older than Sam & Max: This Time It's Virtual! (2021). Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin scores higher on Steam reviews (86.7% positive) than Sam & Max: This Time It's Virtual! (41.8% 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 Sam & Max: This Time It's Virtual!
Choose Sam & Max: This Time It's Virtual! if you want an Indie experience. On Steam, it's the newer release (2021) and ships with the modern feature baseline. Sam & Max: This Time It's Virtual! launched in 2021.
Both Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin and Sam & Max: This Time It's Virtual! sit in Adventure on Steam and both list Tracked Controller Support and VR Only, 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
 Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin |  Sam & Max: This Time It's Virtual! | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2018 | 2021 |
| Genres | Adventure | Indie, Adventure |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Unsupported | Unrated |
| Price | 19.99 USD | 29.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 86.7% positive (442 reviews) | 41.8% positive (79 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Double Fine Productions, React Games | HappyGiant |
Side by side
- Both are Adventure games on Steam.
- Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin (2018) is 3 years older than Sam & Max: This Time It's Virtual! (2021).
- Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin scores higher on Steam reviews (86.7% positive) than Sam & Max: This Time It's Virtual! (41.8% positive).
- Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin is currently ~33% cheaper on Steam than Sam & Max: This Time It's Virtual! (19.99 USD vs. 29.99 USD).
- Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin is Deck Unsupported on Steam Deck; Sam & Max: This Time It's Virtual! has no Deck rating yet.
Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin vs Sam & Max: This Time It's Virtual! — FAQ
- Should I play Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin or Sam & Max: This Time It's Virtual! first?
- If you want chronology, Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin (2018) came out before Sam & Max: This Time It's Virtual! (2021). 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 Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin and Sam & Max: This Time It's Virtual! similar?
- They overlap on 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.