Choose Sunset Drive 1986
Choose Sunset Drive 1986 if it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. Sunset Drive 1986 launched in 2021.
Sunset Drive 1986 vs Synthwave Driver
Sunset Drive 1986 and Synthwave Driver 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. Sunset Drive 1986 (2021) is 4 years older than Synthwave Driver (2025). Synthwave Driver scores higher on Steam reviews (87.2% positive) than Sunset Drive 1986 (81% 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 Synthwave Driver
Choose Synthwave Driver if you want a Simulation game with Steam Leaderboards. On Steam, it's the newer release (2025) and ships with the modern feature baseline. Synthwave Driver launched in 2025.
Both Sunset Drive 1986 and Synthwave Driver 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
 Sunset Drive 1986 |  Synthwave Driver | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2021 | 2025 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Casual, Early Access, Racing | Action, Indie, Simulation, Casual, Early Access, Racing |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Unrated |
| Price | Free to play | 2.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 81% positive (100 reviews) | 87.2% positive (39 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Mehmet Uluç Şahin | Runebox Studios |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie, Casual on Steam.
- Sunset Drive 1986 (2021) is 4 years older than Synthwave Driver (2025).
- Synthwave Driver scores higher on Steam reviews (87.2% positive) than Sunset Drive 1986 (81% positive).
- Sunset Drive 1986 is free; Synthwave Driver is paid (2.99 USD).
Sunset Drive 1986 vs Synthwave Driver — FAQ
- Should I play Sunset Drive 1986 or Synthwave Driver first?
- If you want chronology, Sunset Drive 1986 (2021) came out before Synthwave Driver (2025). 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 Sunset Drive 1986 and Synthwave Driver 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.
- Is Sunset Drive 1986 free?
- Yes — Sunset Drive 1986 is a free-to-play Steam title. Synthwave Driver is paid (2.99 USD).