Choose Squarena
Choose Squarena if it's currently about 44% cheaper on the Steam Store. Squarena launched in 2022.
Squarena vs Island Bender
Squarena and Island Bender both land in Action, Indie 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 on Steam. Squarena (2022) is 1 year older than Island Bender (2023). Squarena is currently ~44% cheaper on Steam than Island Bender (4.99 USD vs. 8.99 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 Island Bender
Choose Island Bender if you want a Casual and Early Access game with Shared/Split Screen Co-op and Co-op. On Steam, it has co-op, so you can bring a friend. Island Bender launched in 2023.
Both Squarena and Island Bender sit in Action and Indie on Steam and both list Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen, and Shared/Split Screen 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
 Squarena |  Island Bender | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2022 | 2023 |
| Genres | Action, Indie | Action, Indie, Casual, Early Access |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Deck Verified |
| Price | 4.99 USD | 8.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 100% positive (11 reviews) | 3 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player | Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | Codeaclysm Games | Island Bender Games |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie on Steam.
- Squarena (2022) is 1 year older than Island Bender (2023).
- Squarena is currently ~44% cheaper on Steam than Island Bender (4.99 USD vs. 8.99 USD).
- Island Bender has co-op; Squarena does not.
- Both are Deck Verified.
Squarena vs Island Bender — FAQ
- Should I play Squarena or Island Bender first?
- If you want chronology, Squarena (2022) came out before Island Bender (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 Squarena and Island Bender similar?
- They overlap on Action, Indie 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 Squarena and Island Bender both run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — both are Steam Deck Verified, meaning Valve confirms they run with full controller support, legible text, and default settings out of the box.