Ballex²: The Hanging Gardens vs Riven
Which one is worth buying now, with today's prices and each game's recommendation.
Riven wins 8 of 14 head-to-head metrics. Ballex²: The Hanging Gardens is $13.11 cheaper.
Metric by metric
The winner of each row gets a ✓. No row weighs more than another; the recommendation is calculated separately.
| Metric | Ballex²: The Hanging Gardens | Riven |
|---|---|---|
| GameValio scoreRecommendation: Maybe × Maybe | 59 | 57 |
| Quality | 74 | 90 |
| Value | 72 | 46 |
| Popularity | 18 | 28 |
| Current Best Price (USD) | $7.84 | $20.95 |
| Steam Review Score | 95.6% positive | 92.3% positive |
| Average Concurrent Players (14 days) | 1 | 26 |
Where to buy
The 3 cheapest stores for each game
Side by side over time
Ballex²: The Hanging GardensRiven
Details and requirements
| Item | Ballex²: The Hanging Gardens | Riven |
|---|---|---|
| Release date | April 30, 2025 | June 25, 2024 |
| Developers | Mushreb Games | Cyan Worlds, Inc. |
| Publishers | Mushreb Games | Cyan Worlds, Inc. |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows, MacOs |
| OS (minimum) | — | Windows 10 or 11 |
| Processor (minimum) | — | AMD Ryzen 7 3800X 8-Core Processor (16 CPUs), ~3.9GHz; Intel i5 11000 series |
| Memory (minimum) | — | 32 GB RAM |
| Graphics (minimum) | — | AMD Radeon RX 6800XT; NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti 11GB; at least 8GB VRAM |
| DirectX (minimum) | — | Version 12 |
| Storage (minimum) | — | 30 GB available space |
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: Ballex²: The Hanging Gardens or Riven?
Riven won the comparison against Ballex²: The Hanging Gardens based on the head-to-head metric breakdown. Check the metrics table above for a full side-by-side analysis.
How is the comparison calculated?
The comparison winner is determined objectively by counting which game wins more individual metrics in the head-to-head table. No weighting is applied. The GameValio Recommendation shown separately is our own suggestion for each game, based on a weighted score that combines quality (reviews), popularity (player counts), and affordability (price vs value) into a score out of 100. These are two different things: the comparison is objective, the recommendation is GameValio's opinion.
Is Ballex²: The Hanging Gardens worth buying over Riven?
Based on the metrics, Riven won the direct comparison. However, also check the GameValio Recommendation for each game and the price comparison table to make the most informed purchase decision.
Which game has better player reviews?
Review score trends and volume over time are shown in the charts section above. The game with consistently higher positive ratios has stronger community reception.
Which game offers better value for money?
The affordability score and price comparison table above highlight the best deals. Ballex²: The Hanging Gardens currently scores better on value relative to its quality and price.
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Analysis updated: Oct 24, 2026, 01:55 PM UTC