Choose The Ascent
Choose The Ascent if you want an Adventure and RPG game with Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen, and Online Co-op. On Steam, it has co-op, so you can bring a friend. 12,117 Steam reviews back the pick.
The Ascent vs I See Red
The Ascent and I See Red 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. The Ascent (2021) is 1 year older than I See Red (2022). I See Red scores higher on Steam reviews (85.4% positive) than The Ascent (77.1% 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 I See Red
Choose I See Red if you want the Stereo Sound and Surround Sound side of the pairing. On Steam, it's currently about 67% cheaper on the Steam Store. I See Red launched in 2022.
Both The Ascent and I See Red sit in Action and Indie on Steam and both list Color Alternatives, Custom Volume Controls, and Playable without Timed Input, 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 |  I See Red | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2021 | 2022 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Adventure, RPG | Action, Indie |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | 29.99 USD | 9.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 77.1% positive (12,117 reviews) | 85.4% positive (41 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Shared/Split Screen Co-op | Single-player only |
| Developers | Neon Giant | Whiteboard Games |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie on Steam.
- The Ascent (2021) is 1 year older than I See Red (2022).
- I See Red scores higher on Steam reviews (85.4% positive) than The Ascent (77.1% positive).
- I See Red is currently ~67% cheaper on Steam than The Ascent (9.99 USD vs. 29.99 USD).
- The Ascent has co-op; I See Red does not.
- The Ascent is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; I See Red has no Deck rating yet.
The Ascent vs I See Red — FAQ
- Should I play The Ascent or I See Red first?
- If you want chronology, The Ascent (2021) came out before I See Red (2022). 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 I See Red 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.
- Does I See Red have multiplayer like The Ascent?
- No. The Ascent supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player, Online Co-op, Shared/Split Screen Co-op), while I See Red is listed as single-player only.
- Does The Ascent run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — The Ascent is rated Deck Playable by Valve. I See Red doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.