Choose Pretend
Choose Pretend if it matches what drew you to this matchup. 1,094 Steam reviews back the pick.
Pretend vs Deadzone Blackout
Pretend and Deadzone Blackout both land in Strategy, Indie, Massively Multiplayer 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, Massively Multiplayer on Steam. Pretend (2021) is 3 years older than Deadzone Blackout (2024). Deadzone Blackout is free; Pretend is paid (Price unknown). 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 Deadzone Blackout
Choose Deadzone Blackout if you want an Action experience. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. Deadzone Blackout launched in 2024.
Both Pretend and Deadzone Blackout sit in Strategy, Indie, and Massively Multiplayer on Steam and both list Multi-player, Online PvP, and Online Co-op, 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
 Pretend |  Deadzone Blackout | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2021 | 2024 |
| Genres | Strategy, Indie, Massively Multiplayer, Free To Play, Casual, Early Access | Action, Strategy, Indie, Massively Multiplayer, Free To Play, Casual, Early Access |
| Platforms | Windows, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Unrated |
| Price | Price unknown | Free to play |
| Steam reviews | 58% positive (1,094 reviews) | — |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op |
| Developers | whitesquare | Hutstudious Company Irc |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Indie, Massively Multiplayer on Steam.
- Pretend (2021) is 3 years older than Deadzone Blackout (2024).
- Deadzone Blackout is free; Pretend is paid (Price unknown).
- Both support cooperative play.
Pretend vs Deadzone Blackout — FAQ
- Should I play Pretend or Deadzone Blackout first?
- If you want chronology, Pretend (2021) came out before Deadzone Blackout (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 Pretend and Deadzone Blackout similar?
- They overlap on Strategy, Indie, Massively Multiplayer 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.
- Do both Pretend and Deadzone Blackout have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: Pretend ships Online Co-op, Co-op; Deadzone Blackout ships Online Co-op, Co-op.
- Is Deadzone Blackout free?
- Yes — Deadzone Blackout is a free-to-play Steam title. Pretend is paid (Price unknown).