IMHO.

Laser Lightshow vs Shockwaves

Laser Lightshow and Shockwaves both land in Strategy, Indie, Casual 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 Strategy, Indie, Casual on Steam. Shockwaves (2024) is 2 years older than Laser Lightshow (2026). Shockwaves is free; Laser Lightshow is paid (Price unknown). 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 Laser Lightshow

Choose Laser Lightshow if it matches what drew you to this matchup. Laser Lightshow launched in 2026.

Choose Shockwaves

Choose Shockwaves if you want a Free To Play game with Steam Leaderboards. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. Shockwaves launched in 2024.

Both Laser Lightshow and Shockwaves sit in Strategy, Indie, and Casual 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

Laser Lightshow vs Shockwaves — Steam metadata comparison
Laser Lightshow — Steam game coverLaser LightshowShockwaves — Steam game coverShockwaves
Released20262024
GenresStrategy, Indie, CasualStrategy, Indie, Free To Play, Casual
PlatformsWindowsWindows
Steam DeckUnratedUnrated
PricePrice unknownFree to play
Steam reviews5 reviews
MultiplayerSingle-player onlySingle-player only
DevelopersThundermagnetSteags

Side by side

Laser Lightshow vs Shockwaves — FAQ

Should I play Laser Lightshow or Shockwaves first?
If you want chronology, Shockwaves (2024) came out before Laser Lightshow (2026). 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 Laser Lightshow and Shockwaves similar?
They overlap on Strategy, Indie, Casual 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.
Is Shockwaves free?
Yes — Shockwaves is a free-to-play Steam title. Laser Lightshow is paid (Price unknown).
Laser Lightshow vs Shockwaves — Verdict (2026) · imho.run