Choose GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE-
Choose GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE- if it matches what drew you to this matchup. 32,108 Steam reviews back the pick.
GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE- vs Idol Showdown
GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE- and Idol Showdown both land in Action 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 are Action games on Steam. GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE- (2021) is 2 years older than Idol Showdown (2023). Idol Showdown scores higher on Steam reviews (94.3% positive) than GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE- (92.1% 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 Idol Showdown
Choose Idol Showdown if you want an Indie experience. On Steam, it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 94.3% positive across 3,775 reviews.
Both GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE- and Idol Showdown sit in Action on Steam and both list Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen, and Online PvP, 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
 GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE- |  Idol Showdown | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2021 | 2023 |
| Genres | Action | Action, Indie |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Deck Playable |
| Price | 39.99 USD | Free to play |
| Steam reviews | 92.1% positive (32,108 reviews) | 94.3% positive (3,775 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player | Multi-player |
| Developers | Arc System Works | Besto Game Team |
Side by side
- Both are Action games on Steam.
- GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE- (2021) is 2 years older than Idol Showdown (2023).
- Idol Showdown scores higher on Steam reviews (94.3% positive) than GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE- (92.1% positive).
- Idol Showdown is free; GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE- is paid (39.99 USD).
- Both are Deck Playable.
GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE- vs Idol Showdown — FAQ
- Which is better, GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE- or Idol Showdown?
- On Steam reviews Idol Showdown scores higher (94.3% positive) than GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE- (92.1% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, Idol Showdown is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.
- Should I play GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE- or Idol Showdown first?
- If you want chronology, GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE- (2021) came out before Idol Showdown (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 GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE- and Idol Showdown similar?
- They overlap on Action 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.
- Is Idol Showdown free?
- Yes — Idol Showdown is a free-to-play Steam title. GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE- is paid (39.99 USD).