Choose Optimum Link
Choose Optimum Link if you want a Free To Play and Casual experience. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. Optimum Link launched in 2019.
Optimum Link vs Empower
Optimum Link and Empower 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. Optimum Link (2019) is 2 years older than Empower (2021). Optimum Link is free; Empower is paid (17.99 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 Empower
Choose Empower if you want a Simulation and Early Access game with Online PvP, PvP, and Tracked Controller Support. Empower launched in 2021.
Both Optimum Link and Empower sit in Action and Indie on Steam and both list Multi-player, Online Co-op, and 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
 Optimum Link |  Empower | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2019 | 2021 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Free To Play, Casual | Action, Indie, Simulation, Early Access |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Unrated |
| Price | Free to play | 17.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 73.7% positive (76 reviews) | 2 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | Protoria Studios | DespoDev |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie on Steam.
- Optimum Link (2019) is 2 years older than Empower (2021).
- Optimum Link is free; Empower is paid (17.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
Optimum Link vs Empower — FAQ
- Should I play Optimum Link or Empower first?
- If you want chronology, Optimum Link (2019) came out before Empower (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 Optimum Link and Empower 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.
- Do both Optimum Link and Empower have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: Optimum Link ships Online Co-op, Co-op; Empower ships Online Co-op, Co-op.
- Is Optimum Link free?
- Yes — Optimum Link is a free-to-play Steam title. Empower is paid (17.99 USD).