Choose Runic Survivor
Choose Runic Survivor if you want a Strategy, Indie, and Casual experience. On Steam, it's currently about 80% cheaper on the Steam Store. Runic Survivor launched in 2023.
Runic Survivor vs Shape Shifter: Formations
Runic Survivor and Shape Shifter: Formations 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. Runic Survivor (2023) is 2 years older than Shape Shifter: Formations (2025). Shape Shifter: Formations scores higher on Steam reviews (91.4% positive) than Runic Survivor (63.7% positive). 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 Shape Shifter: Formations
Choose Shape Shifter: Formations if you want a RPG and Free To Play game with Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen, and Shared/Split Screen Co-op. On Steam, it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 91.4% positive across 220 reviews.
Both Runic Survivor and Shape Shifter: Formations 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
 Runic Survivor |  Shape Shifter: Formations | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2023 | 2025 |
| Genres | Action, Strategy, Indie, Casual | Action, RPG, Free To Play |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Deck Verified |
| Price | 2.99 USD | 14.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 63.7% positive (201 reviews) | 91.4% positive (220 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | STEELDUCK Studios | Castec Studios |
Side by side
- Both are Action games on Steam.
- Runic Survivor (2023) is 2 years older than Shape Shifter: Formations (2025).
- Shape Shifter: Formations scores higher on Steam reviews (91.4% positive) than Runic Survivor (63.7% positive).
- Runic Survivor is currently ~80% cheaper on Steam than Shape Shifter: Formations (2.99 USD vs. 14.99 USD).
- Shape Shifter: Formations has co-op; Runic Survivor does not.
- Shape Shifter: Formations is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Runic Survivor has no Deck rating yet.
Runic Survivor vs Shape Shifter: Formations — FAQ
- Which is better, Runic Survivor or Shape Shifter: Formations?
- On Steam reviews Shape Shifter: Formations scores higher (91.4% positive) than Runic Survivor (63.7% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, Shape Shifter: Formations is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.
- Should I play Runic Survivor or Shape Shifter: Formations first?
- If you want chronology, Runic Survivor (2023) came out before Shape Shifter: Formations (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 Runic Survivor and Shape Shifter: Formations 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 Runic Survivor have multiplayer like Shape Shifter: Formations?
- No. Shape Shifter: Formations supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op), while Runic Survivor is listed as single-player only.