Choose NPCs
Choose NPCs if it matches what drew you to this matchup. NPCs launched in 2018.
NPCs vs Zap Dem Rats
NPCs and Zap Dem Rats both land in Action, Indie, 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 Action, Indie, Casual on Steam. NPCs (2018) is 4 years older than Zap Dem Rats (2022). 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 Zap Dem Rats
Choose Zap Dem Rats if you want an Adventure experience. On Steam, it's the newer release (2022) and ships with the modern feature baseline. Zap Dem Rats launched in 2022.
Both NPCs and Zap Dem Rats sit in Action, Indie, and Casual 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
 NPCs |  Zap Dem Rats | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2018 | 2022 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Casual | Action, Indie, Adventure, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows, macOS |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Unrated |
| Price | Price unknown | 4.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 77.4% positive (31 reviews) | 7 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | NPC Games | Brucent LLC |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie, Casual on Steam.
- NPCs (2018) is 4 years older than Zap Dem Rats (2022).
NPCs vs Zap Dem Rats — FAQ
- Should I play NPCs or Zap Dem Rats first?
- If you want chronology, NPCs (2018) came out before Zap Dem Rats (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 NPCs and Zap Dem Rats similar?
- They overlap on Action, Indie, 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.