Choose Spectator 2
Choose Spectator 2 if you want an Action, Simulation, and Massively Multiplayer game with Multi-player, Online Co-op, and Co-op. On Steam, it has co-op, so you can bring a friend. Spectator 2 launched in 2025.
Spectator 2 vs Shift 87
Spectator 2 and Shift 87 both land in 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 Indie, Casual on Steam. Shift 87 (2024) is 1 year older than Spectator 2 (2025). Shift 87 scores higher on Steam reviews (86.5% positive) than Spectator 2 (53.3% 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 Shift 87
Choose Shift 87 if you want an Adventure experience. On Steam, it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. Shift 87 launched in 2024.
Both Spectator 2 and Shift 87 sit in 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
 Spectator 2 |  Shift 87 | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2025 | 2024 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Simulation, Massively Multiplayer, Casual | Indie, Adventure, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Deck Verified |
| Price | 5.19 USD | 4.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 53.3% positive (15 reviews) | 86.5% positive (74 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op | Single-player only |
| Developers | Neko Machine | Pixelsplit |
Side by side
- Both share Indie, Casual on Steam.
- Shift 87 (2024) is 1 year older than Spectator 2 (2025).
- Shift 87 scores higher on Steam reviews (86.5% positive) than Spectator 2 (53.3% positive).
- Shift 87 is currently ~4% cheaper on Steam than Spectator 2 (4.99 USD vs. 5.19 USD).
- Spectator 2 has co-op; Shift 87 does not.
- Steam Deck: Spectator 2 is Deck Playable, Shift 87 is Deck Verified.
Spectator 2 vs Shift 87 — FAQ
- Should I play Spectator 2 or Shift 87 first?
- If you want chronology, Shift 87 (2024) came out before Spectator 2 (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 Spectator 2 and Shift 87 similar?
- They overlap on 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.
- Does Shift 87 have multiplayer like Spectator 2?
- No. Spectator 2 supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op), while Shift 87 is listed as single-player only.