Choose Shadow Empire
Choose Shadow Empire if you want a RPG game with Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen, and Shared/Split Screen PvP. On Steam, it has co-op, so you can bring a friend. 1,123 Steam reviews back the pick.
Shadow Empire vs Ballistic M.A.D.ness
Shadow Empire and Ballistic M.A.D.ness both land in Strategy, Simulation 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 Strategy, Simulation on Steam. Shadow Empire (2020) is 1 year older than Ballistic M.A.D.ness (2021). Ballistic M.A.D.ness is currently ~98% cheaper on Steam than Shadow Empire (0.99 USD vs. 39.99 USD). 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 Ballistic M.A.D.ness
Choose Ballistic M.A.D.ness if you want a Casual experience. On Steam, it's currently about 98% cheaper on the Steam Store. Ballistic M.A.D.ness launched in 2021.
Both Shadow Empire and Ballistic M.A.D.ness sit in Strategy and Simulation 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
 Shadow Empire |  Ballistic M.A.D.ness | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2020 | 2021 |
| Genres | Strategy, Simulation, RPG | Strategy, Simulation, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Unsupported | Unrated |
| Price | 39.99 USD | 0.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 82.1% positive (1,123 reviews) | 1 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op | Single-player only |
| Developers | VR Designs | Glurth |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Simulation on Steam.
- Shadow Empire (2020) is 1 year older than Ballistic M.A.D.ness (2021).
- Ballistic M.A.D.ness is currently ~98% cheaper on Steam than Shadow Empire (0.99 USD vs. 39.99 USD).
- Shadow Empire has co-op; Ballistic M.A.D.ness does not.
- Shadow Empire is Deck Unsupported on Steam Deck; Ballistic M.A.D.ness has no Deck rating yet.
Shadow Empire vs Ballistic M.A.D.ness — FAQ
- Should I play Shadow Empire or Ballistic M.A.D.ness first?
- If you want chronology, Shadow Empire (2020) came out before Ballistic M.A.D.ness (2021). 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 Shadow Empire and Ballistic M.A.D.ness similar?
- They overlap on Strategy, Simulation 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 Ballistic M.A.D.ness have multiplayer like Shadow Empire?
- No. Shadow Empire supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op), while Ballistic M.A.D.ness is listed as single-player only.