Choose Music Boy 3D
Choose Music Boy 3D if you want an Early Access experience. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. Music Boy 3D launched in 2018.
Music Boy 3D vs Rift of the NecroDancer
Music Boy 3D and Rift of the NecroDancer both land in Action, Indie 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 on Steam. Music Boy 3D (2018) is 7 years older than Rift of the NecroDancer (2025). Rift of the NecroDancer scores higher on Steam reviews (94.7% positive) than Music Boy 3D (83.3% 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 Rift of the NecroDancer
Choose Rift of the NecroDancer if you want a RPG game with Color Alternatives, Camera Comfort, and Custom Volume Controls. On Steam, it's the newer release (2025) and ships with the modern feature baseline. 2,813 Steam reviews back the pick.
Both Music Boy 3D and Rift of the NecroDancer sit in Action and Indie 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
 Music Boy 3D |  Rift of the NecroDancer | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2018 | 2025 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Early Access | Action, Indie, RPG |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Deck Verified |
| Price | Free to play | 19.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 83.3% positive (12 reviews) | 94.7% positive (2,813 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Victor Pukman | Brace Yourself Games, Tic Toc Games |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie on Steam.
- Music Boy 3D (2018) is 7 years older than Rift of the NecroDancer (2025).
- Rift of the NecroDancer scores higher on Steam reviews (94.7% positive) than Music Boy 3D (83.3% positive).
- Music Boy 3D is free; Rift of the NecroDancer is paid (19.99 USD).
- Steam Deck: Music Boy 3D is Deck Playable, Rift of the NecroDancer is Deck Verified.
Music Boy 3D vs Rift of the NecroDancer — FAQ
- Should I play Music Boy 3D or Rift of the NecroDancer first?
- If you want chronology, Music Boy 3D (2018) came out before Rift of the NecroDancer (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 Music Boy 3D and Rift of the NecroDancer similar?
- They overlap on Action, Indie 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 Music Boy 3D free?
- Yes — Music Boy 3D is a free-to-play Steam title. Rift of the NecroDancer is paid (19.99 USD).