Choose The Ascent
Choose The Ascent if you want a RPG game with Subtitle Options, Color Alternatives, and Camera Comfort. 12,117 Steam reviews back the pick.
The Ascent vs Living Dead
The Ascent and Living Dead both land in Action, Indie, Adventure 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, Adventure on Steam. The Ascent (2021) is 3 years older than Living Dead (2024). The Ascent scores higher on Steam reviews (77.1% positive) than Living Dead (57.9% 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 Living Dead
Choose Living Dead if you want a Free To Play and Casual game with Steam Turn Notifications and LAN Co-op. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. Living Dead launched in 2024.
Both The Ascent and Living Dead sit in Action, Indie, and Adventure on Steam and both list Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen, 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
 The Ascent |  Living Dead | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2021 | 2024 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Adventure, RPG | Action, Indie, Adventure, Free To Play, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Deck Unsupported |
| Price | 29.99 USD | Free to play |
| Steam reviews | 77.1% positive (12,117 reviews) | 57.9% positive (19 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Shared/Split Screen Co-op | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Shared/Split Screen Co-op |
| Developers | Neon Giant | Specpixel Entertainment |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie, Adventure on Steam.
- The Ascent (2021) is 3 years older than Living Dead (2024).
- The Ascent scores higher on Steam reviews (77.1% positive) than Living Dead (57.9% positive).
- Living Dead is free; The Ascent is paid (29.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
- Steam Deck: The Ascent is Deck Playable, Living Dead is Deck Unsupported.
The Ascent vs Living Dead — FAQ
- Should I play The Ascent or Living Dead first?
- If you want chronology, The Ascent (2021) came out before Living Dead (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 The Ascent and Living Dead similar?
- They overlap on Action, Indie, Adventure 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 The Ascent and Living Dead have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: The Ascent ships Online Co-op, Shared/Split Screen Co-op; Living Dead ships Online Co-op, Shared/Split Screen Co-op.
- Is Living Dead free?
- Yes — Living Dead is a free-to-play Steam title. The Ascent is paid (29.99 USD).