Choose HexLab
Choose HexLab if you want a Casual experience. On Steam, it's currently about 63% cheaper on the Steam Store. HexLab launched in 2019.
HexLab vs Nexus 5X
HexLab and Nexus 5X both land in Strategy, 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 Strategy, Indie on Steam. HexLab (2019) is 5 years older than Nexus 5X (2024). HexLab is currently ~63% cheaper on Steam than Nexus 5X (5.59 USD vs. 14.99 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 Nexus 5X
Choose Nexus 5X if you want a Simulation and RPG game with Online Co-op and Co-op. On Steam, it's the newer release (2024) and ships with the modern feature baseline. Nexus 5X launched in 2024.
Both HexLab and Nexus 5X sit in Strategy and Indie on Steam and both list Multi-player, Online PvP, and PvP, 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
 HexLab |  Nexus 5X | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2019 | 2024 |
| Genres | Strategy, Indie, Casual | Strategy, Indie, Simulation, RPG |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Deck Playable |
| Price | 5.59 USD | 14.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 9 reviews | 91.6% positive (717 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | Satur Entertainment | Whatboy Games |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Indie on Steam.
- HexLab (2019) is 5 years older than Nexus 5X (2024).
- HexLab is currently ~63% cheaper on Steam than Nexus 5X (5.59 USD vs. 14.99 USD).
- Nexus 5X has co-op; HexLab does not.
- Nexus 5X is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; HexLab has no Deck rating yet.
HexLab vs Nexus 5X — FAQ
- Should I play HexLab or Nexus 5X first?
- If you want chronology, HexLab (2019) came out before Nexus 5X (2024). 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 HexLab and Nexus 5X similar?
- They overlap on Strategy, 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.