Choose ZED
Choose ZED if it matches what drew you to this matchup. ZED launched in 2019.
ZED vs Riven
ZED and Riven both land in Indie, Adventure, Casual 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, Adventure, Casual on Steam. ZED (2019) is 5 years older than Riven (2024). Riven scores higher on Steam reviews (93.5% positive) than ZED (61.8% 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 Riven
Choose Riven if you want the HDR available, Color Alternatives, and Camera Comfort side of the pairing. On Steam, it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 93.5% positive across 2,175 reviews.
Both ZED and Riven sit in Indie, Adventure, and Casual on Steam and both list Tracked Controller Support and VR Supported, 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
 ZED |  Riven | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2019 | 2024 |
| Genres | Indie, Adventure, Casual | Indie, Adventure, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Deck Verified |
| Price | Price unknown | 34.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 61.8% positive (102 reviews) | 93.5% positive (2,175 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | From Away Games | Cyan Worlds, Inc. |
Side by side
- Both share Indie, Adventure, Casual on Steam.
- ZED (2019) is 5 years older than Riven (2024).
- Riven scores higher on Steam reviews (93.5% positive) than ZED (61.8% positive).
- Riven is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; ZED has no Deck rating yet.
ZED vs Riven — FAQ
- Which is better, ZED or Riven?
- On Steam reviews Riven scores higher (93.5% positive) than ZED (61.8% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, Riven is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.
- Should I play ZED or Riven first?
- If you want chronology, ZED (2019) came out before Riven (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 ZED and Riven similar?
- They overlap on Indie, Adventure, Casual 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.