Choose AREAZ
Choose AREAZ if you want an Action experience. AREAZ launched in 2019.
AREAZ vs Northern Lights
AREAZ and Northern Lights both land in Indie, Simulation, Early Access 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 Indie, Simulation, Early Access on Steam. AREAZ (2019) is 1 year older than Northern Lights (2020). Northern Lights scores higher on Steam reviews (73.7% positive) than AREAZ (67.6% 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 Northern Lights
Choose Northern Lights if it's currently about 33% cheaper on the Steam Store. Northern Lights launched in 2020.
Both AREAZ and Northern Lights sit in Indie, Simulation, and Early Access 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
 AREAZ |  Northern Lights | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2019 | 2020 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Simulation, Early Access | Indie, Simulation, Early Access |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Deck Unsupported |
| Price | 17.99 USD | 11.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 67.6% positive (37 reviews) | 73.7% positive (118 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Project Solutions | MadGoat Studio |
Side by side
- Both share Indie, Simulation, Early Access on Steam.
- AREAZ (2019) is 1 year older than Northern Lights (2020).
- Northern Lights scores higher on Steam reviews (73.7% positive) than AREAZ (67.6% positive).
- Northern Lights is currently ~33% cheaper on Steam than AREAZ (11.99 USD vs. 17.99 USD).
- Steam Deck: AREAZ is Deck Playable, Northern Lights is Deck Unsupported.
AREAZ vs Northern Lights — FAQ
- Should I play AREAZ or Northern Lights first?
- If you want chronology, AREAZ (2019) came out before Northern Lights (2020). 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 AREAZ and Northern Lights similar?
- They overlap on Indie, Simulation, Early Access 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.