Choose The Perfect Pencil
Choose The Perfect Pencil if it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. The Perfect Pencil launched in 2026.
The Perfect Pencil vs Shellbound
The Perfect Pencil and Shellbound both land in Action, Indie, Adventure 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, Adventure on Steam. The Perfect Pencil (2026) is 2 years older than Shellbound (2028). The Perfect Pencil is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Shellbound has no Deck rating yet. 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 Shellbound
Choose Shellbound if you want the DualSense Controller Support and Steam Input API Support side of the pairing. Shellbound launched in 2028.
Both The Perfect Pencil and Shellbound sit in Action, Indie, and Adventure on Steam and both list DualShock Controller Support and Gamepad Recommended, 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
 The Perfect Pencil |  Shellbound | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2026 | 2028 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Adventure | Action, Indie, Adventure |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Unrated |
| Price | 24.99 USD | Price unknown |
| Steam reviews | 83.8% positive (37 reviews) | — |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Studio Cima | Fake Lobster |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie, Adventure on Steam.
- The Perfect Pencil (2026) is 2 years older than Shellbound (2028).
- The Perfect Pencil is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Shellbound has no Deck rating yet.
The Perfect Pencil vs Shellbound — FAQ
- Should I play The Perfect Pencil or Shellbound first?
- If you want chronology, The Perfect Pencil (2026) came out before Shellbound (2028). 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 The Perfect Pencil and Shellbound similar?
- They overlap on Action, Indie, Adventure 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 The Perfect Pencil run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — The Perfect Pencil is rated Deck Verified by Valve. Shellbound doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.