Choose Per Aspera
Choose Per Aspera if you want the Multi-player, Online Co-op, and Co-op side of the pairing. On Steam, it has co-op, so you can bring a friend. 2,488 Steam reviews back the pick.
Per Aspera vs Code Lab（代码实验室）
Per Aspera and Code Lab（代码实验室） both land in Strategy, Indie, 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 Strategy, Indie, Simulation on Steam. Per Aspera (2020) is 1 year older than Code Lab（代码实验室） (2021). Code Lab（代码实验室） is currently ~90% cheaper on Steam than Per Aspera (2.99 USD vs. 29.99 USD). 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 Code Lab（代码实验室）
Choose Code Lab（代码实验室） if it's currently about 90% cheaper on the Steam Store. Code Lab（代码实验室） launched in 2021.
Both Per Aspera and Code Lab（代码实验室） sit in Strategy, Indie, 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
 Per Aspera |  Code Lab（代码实验室） | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2020 | 2021 |
| Genres | Strategy, Indie, Simulation | Strategy, Indie, Simulation |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | 29.99 USD | 2.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 76.9% positive (2,488 reviews) | — |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op | Single-player only |
| Developers | Tlön Industries | Ardyn |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Indie, Simulation on Steam.
- Per Aspera (2020) is 1 year older than Code Lab（代码实验室） (2021).
- Code Lab（代码实验室） is currently ~90% cheaper on Steam than Per Aspera (2.99 USD vs. 29.99 USD).
- Per Aspera has co-op; Code Lab（代码实验室） does not.
- Per Aspera is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; Code Lab（代码实验室） has no Deck rating yet.
Per Aspera vs Code Lab（代码实验室） — FAQ
- Should I play Per Aspera or Code Lab（代码实验室） first?
- If you want chronology, Per Aspera (2020) came out before Code Lab（代码实验室） (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 Per Aspera and Code Lab（代码实验室） similar?
- They overlap on Strategy, Indie, 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.
- Does Code Lab（代码实验室） have multiplayer like Per Aspera?
- No. Per Aspera supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op), while Code Lab（代码实验室） is listed as single-player only.
- Does Per Aspera run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Per Aspera is rated Deck Playable by Valve. Code Lab（代码实验室） doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.