Choose WAVECADE
Choose WAVECADE if you want a Strategy game with Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen, and Steam Leaderboards. On Steam, it has co-op, so you can bring a friend. WAVECADE launched in 2022.
WAVECADE vs BACKFIRE
WAVECADE and BACKFIRE 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. WAVECADE (2022) is 3 years older than BACKFIRE (2025). BACKFIRE is currently ~0% cheaper on Steam than WAVECADE (9.99 USD vs. 9.99 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 BACKFIRE
Choose BACKFIRE if you want an Indie game with Custom Volume Controls, Mouse Only Option, and Touch Only Option. On Steam, it's the newer release (2025) and ships with the modern feature baseline. BACKFIRE launched in 2025.
Both WAVECADE and BACKFIRE sit in Action 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
 WAVECADE |  BACKFIRE | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2022 | 2025 |
| Genres | Action, Strategy | Action, Indie |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Windows, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Unrated |
| Price | 9.99 USD | 9.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 95.8% positive (24 reviews) | 8 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op | Single-player only |
| Developers | Andrew Spalato, Lewis Spalato | SQYD.studio |
Side by side
- Both are Action games on Steam.
- WAVECADE (2022) is 3 years older than BACKFIRE (2025).
- BACKFIRE is currently ~0% cheaper on Steam than WAVECADE (9.99 USD vs. 9.99 USD).
- WAVECADE has co-op; BACKFIRE does not.
WAVECADE vs BACKFIRE — FAQ
- Should I play WAVECADE or BACKFIRE first?
- If you want chronology, WAVECADE (2022) came out before BACKFIRE (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 WAVECADE and BACKFIRE 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.
- Does BACKFIRE have multiplayer like WAVECADE?
- No. WAVECADE supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op), while BACKFIRE is listed as single-player only.