IMHO.

Shape Shifter: Formations vs Binding of Elements

Shape Shifter: Formations and Binding of Elements both land in Action, RPG 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, RPG on Steam. Binding of Elements (2024) is 1 year older than Shape Shifter: Formations (2025). Binding of Elements is currently ~53% cheaper on Steam than Shape Shifter: Formations (6.99 USD vs. 14.99 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 Shape Shifter: Formations

Choose Shape Shifter: Formations if you want a Free To Play game with Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen, and Shared/Split Screen Co-op. On Steam, it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. Shape Shifter: Formations launched in 2025.

Choose Binding of Elements

Choose Binding of Elements if you want an Indie and Casual experience. On Steam, it's currently about 53% cheaper on the Steam Store. Binding of Elements launched in 2024.

Both Shape Shifter: Formations and Binding of Elements sit in Action and RPG 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

Shape Shifter: Formations vs Binding of Elements — Steam metadata comparison
Shape Shifter: Formations — Steam game coverShape Shifter: FormationsBinding of Elements — Steam game coverBinding of Elements
Released20252024
GenresAction, RPG, Free To PlayAction, Indie, RPG, Casual
PlatformsWindowsWindows
Steam DeckDeck VerifiedUnrated
Price14.99 USD6.99 USD
Steam reviews91.4% positive (220 reviews)2 reviews
MultiplayerMulti-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-opSingle-player only
DevelopersCastec StudiosBeafchief

Side by side

Shape Shifter: Formations vs Binding of Elements — FAQ

Should I play Shape Shifter: Formations or Binding of Elements first?
If you want chronology, Binding of Elements (2024) 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 Shape Shifter: Formations and Binding of Elements similar?
They overlap on Action, RPG 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 Binding of Elements have multiplayer like Shape Shifter: Formations?
No. Shape Shifter: Formations supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op), while Binding of Elements is listed as single-player only.
Does Shape Shifter: Formations run on Steam Deck?
Yes — Shape Shifter: Formations is rated Deck Verified by Valve. Binding of Elements doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.
Shape Shifter: Formations vs Binding of Elements (2026) · imho.run