Choose Shardpunk
Choose Shardpunk if you want a Simulation experience. On Steam, it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. Shardpunk launched in 2023.
Shardpunk vs Blacken Slash
Shardpunk and Blacken Slash both land in Strategy, Indie, RPG 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, Indie, RPG on Steam. Blacken Slash (2022) is 1 year older than Shardpunk (2023). Shardpunk scores higher on Steam reviews (92.4% positive) than Blacken Slash (87% 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 Blacken Slash
Choose Blacken Slash if you want an Action experience. On Steam, it's currently about 29% cheaper on the Steam Store. Blacken Slash launched in 2022.
Both Shardpunk and Blacken Slash sit in Strategy, Indie, and RPG 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
 Shardpunk |  Blacken Slash | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2023 | 2022 |
| Genres | Strategy, Indie, Simulation, RPG | Action, Strategy, Indie, RPG |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Unrated |
| Price | 13.99 USD | 9.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 92.4% positive (591 reviews) | 87% positive (23 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Clockwork Pile | ehmprah |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Indie, RPG on Steam.
- Blacken Slash (2022) is 1 year older than Shardpunk (2023).
- Shardpunk scores higher on Steam reviews (92.4% positive) than Blacken Slash (87% positive).
- Blacken Slash is currently ~29% cheaper on Steam than Shardpunk (9.99 USD vs. 13.99 USD).
- Shardpunk is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Blacken Slash has no Deck rating yet.
Shardpunk vs Blacken Slash — FAQ
- Should I play Shardpunk or Blacken Slash first?
- If you want chronology, Blacken Slash (2022) came out before Shardpunk (2023). 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 Shardpunk and Blacken Slash similar?
- They overlap on Strategy, Indie, RPG 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 Shardpunk run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Shardpunk is rated Deck Verified by Valve. Blacken Slash doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.