Single-player games like Space Waves
Below are 16 single-player Steam games similar to Space Waves, ranked by player overlap. Every pick carries Steam's Single-player category, so multiplayer-only titles or always-online games don't sneak in. imho.run pulls the category data from Steam directly — Single-player here matches what the store labels.
Want the full alternatives list (paid + free + Steam Deck + cheaper picks)? See the parent games like Space Waves page.
Ranked picks
- 1
Sektori
Single-player alternative to Space Waves — playable solo, no multiplayer required. Shares Action with Space Waves.
Sektori is an intense, fast paced twin-stick shooter infused with hard hitting techno music. A game where the high-adrenaline gameplay, visuals, and music come together to transport you into another state of consciousness.
- 2
Syder Arcade
Single-player alternative to Space Waves — playable solo, no multiplayer required. Shares Action with Space Waves.
Killing zombies never gets old, but sometimes you just need a break. Get back to some serious old-school gaming with Syder Arcade! Syder Arcade is a love letter to Amiga games of the ‘90s, no coins, no upgrade grinding, just your tenacity and a motherload of alien invaders.
- 3
Waves
Single-player alternative to Space Waves — playable solo, no multiplayer required. Shares Action with Space Waves.
Waves is an Arcade Twin-Stick Shooter that's all about High Scores. Build your combo and drop bombs in pursuit of Leaderboard dominance over seven game-modes!
- 4
Ikaruga
Single-player alternative to Space Waves — playable solo, no multiplayer required. Shares Action with Space Waves.
Shoot! Dodge! and... Get Hit!? "Ikaruga" is a vertical shoot 'em up that features an unique polarity-switching gameplay. Switch the ship's polarity and "get hit and absorb" enemy bullets! Achieve High Score with the chain bonus!
- 5
Assault Android Cactus+
Single-player alternative to Space Waves — playable solo, no multiplayer required. Shares Action with Space Waves.
Assault Android Cactus is an intense arcade style twin stick shooter - pick from one of nine unique synthetic heroines and blast your way through overwhelming robots hordes to save the ship from its own workforce. Supports single player and local co-op game modes.
- 6
LUFTRAUSERS
Single-player alternative to Space Waves — playable solo, no multiplayer required. Shares Action and Casual with Space Waves.
The skies are aflame and the seas will overflow with wreckage in Vlambeer’s stylish arcade shooter LUFTRAUSERS! Take to the skies in customized fighter planes to battle battleships, submarines, and rival aces for glory, honor, and high scores.
- 7
Nuclear Throne
Single-player alternative to Space Waves — playable solo, no multiplayer required. Shares Action with Space Waves.
Nuclear Throne is a post-apocalyptic roguelike-like top-down shooter. Not 'the final hope of humanity' post-apocalyptic, but 'humanity is extinct and mutants and monsters now roam the world' post-apocalyptic. Can you reach the Nuclear Throne?
- 8
Nex Machina
Single-player alternative to Space Waves — playable solo, no multiplayer required. Shares Action with Space Waves.
Nex Machina is an intense arcade style twin-stick shooter from Housemarque. Taking hints from both Robotron and Smash TV, Nex Machina focuses on pure action, voxel destruction and competition in the distant, cablepunk themed future.
- 9
Snowman Saves Christmas
Single-player alternative to Space Waves — playable solo, no multiplayer required. Shares Action with Space Waves.
Snowman Saves Christmas is a 1980s Inspired 2D platformer. Featuring 250 Levels of retro inspired platforming fun split across 5 game modes and Multiple PowerUp items.
- 10
Power Ball 2021
Single-player alternative to Space Waves — playable solo, no multiplayer required. Shares Action and Casual with Space Waves.
Power Ball 2021 is here to provide block busting, ball bouncing, gun shooting action for 1 or 2 players. Inspired by great bat and ball games of the past with powerups thrown in to help you defeat the increasingly challenging levels.
- 11
Retro Wars
Single-player alternative to Space Waves — playable solo, no multiplayer required. Shares Action and Casual with Space Waves.
Take on an entire army in this 80s inspired retro top down vertical scrolling shooter. Be a one man war machine or take a friend into battle for some fun 2 player local co-op.
- 12
Astro Fighters 2178
Single-player alternative to Space Waves — playable solo, no multiplayer required. Shares Action with Space Waves.
Battle through 16 action-packed levels, defeat massive alien bosses, unlock powerful ship upgrades, and fight to save humanity in this retro-inspired side-scrolling arcade shooter. Play solo or team up with a friend in local co-op.
- 13
Asteroid Blasters
Single-player alternative to Space Waves — playable solo, no multiplayer required. Shares Action with Space Waves.
Asteroid Blasters is a non-stop action space shooter. Inspired by Asteroids, this game will see you choose between 6 different ships each with their own characteristics and utilize a variety of weapon powerups to eradicate your enemies. Play 2 players to increase your chance of survival.
- 14
Super Hot Potato
Single-player alternative to Space Waves — playable solo, no multiplayer required. Shares Action and Casual with Space Waves.
A self aware Super Hot Potato is on a quest to free his fellow potato kind from their imminent doom. Help Super Hot Potato navigate treacherous screens filled with obstacles, collecting potato's and finally making your way to each screens exit. Retro inspired 80s style grid movement gameplay
- 15
Freddy Frog
Single-player alternative to Space Waves — playable solo, no multiplayer required. Shares Action and Casual with Space Waves.
Leap, climb, and survive in this endless arcade platformer. Collect flies, avoid dangerous wasps, conquer procedurally generated levels, and climb as high as possible while chasing the ultimate high score.
- 16
Wings Of WW2
Single-player alternative to Space Waves — playable solo, no multiplayer required. Shares Action with Space Waves.
Take to the skies in this action-packed WWII arcade flight combat game. Engage enemy fighters, complete critical missions, and fight for control of the battlefield.