Choose WAVECADE
Choose WAVECADE if you want a Strategy game with Steam Leaderboards and Online Co-op. WAVECADE launched in 2022.
WAVECADE vs Hellcrackers
WAVECADE and Hellcrackers 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 Hellcrackers (2025). Hellcrackers is currently ~70% cheaper on Steam than WAVECADE (2.99 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 Hellcrackers
Choose Hellcrackers if you want a Casual experience. On Steam, it's currently about 70% cheaper on the Steam Store. Hellcrackers launched in 2025.
Both WAVECADE and Hellcrackers sit in Action on Steam and both list Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen, and Shared/Split Screen Co-op, 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 |  Hellcrackers | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2022 | 2025 |
| Genres | Action, Strategy | Action, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Unrated |
| Price | 9.99 USD | 2.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 95.8% positive (24 reviews) | 8 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op | Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | Andrew Spalato, Lewis Spalato | Balazs Maczak, Balazs Sabransky |
Side by side
- Both are Action games on Steam.
- WAVECADE (2022) is 3 years older than Hellcrackers (2025).
- Hellcrackers is currently ~70% cheaper on Steam than WAVECADE (2.99 USD vs. 9.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
WAVECADE vs Hellcrackers — FAQ
- Should I play WAVECADE or Hellcrackers first?
- If you want chronology, WAVECADE (2022) came out before Hellcrackers (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 Hellcrackers 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.
- Do both WAVECADE and Hellcrackers have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: WAVECADE ships Online Co-op, Shared/Split Screen Co-op; Hellcrackers ships Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op.