Choose NIDUS
Choose NIDUS if you want the Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen, and Shared/Split Screen Co-op side of the pairing. On Steam, it has co-op, so you can bring a friend. NIDUS launched in 2024.
NIDUS vs Heartbeats
NIDUS and Heartbeats both land in Action, Indie 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 on Steam. NIDUS (2024) is 1 year older than Heartbeats (2025). NIDUS scores higher on Steam reviews (92.7% positive) than Heartbeats (90% 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 Heartbeats
Choose Heartbeats if it's currently about 56% cheaper on the Steam Store. Heartbeats launched in 2025.
Both NIDUS and Heartbeats sit in Action and Indie on Steam and both list Steam Leaderboards, 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
 NIDUS |  Heartbeats | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2024 | 2025 |
| Genres | Action, Indie | Action, Indie |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | 8.99 USD | 3.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 92.7% positive (191 reviews) | 90% positive (10 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op | Single-player only |
| Developers | Caleb Wood | First Impact Studio |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie on Steam.
- NIDUS (2024) is 1 year older than Heartbeats (2025).
- NIDUS scores higher on Steam reviews (92.7% positive) than Heartbeats (90% positive).
- Heartbeats is currently ~56% cheaper on Steam than NIDUS (3.99 USD vs. 8.99 USD).
- NIDUS has co-op; Heartbeats does not.
- NIDUS is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; Heartbeats has no Deck rating yet.
NIDUS vs Heartbeats — FAQ
- Should I play NIDUS or Heartbeats first?
- If you want chronology, NIDUS (2024) came out before Heartbeats (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 NIDUS and Heartbeats similar?
- They overlap on Action, Indie 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 Heartbeats have multiplayer like NIDUS?
- No. NIDUS supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op), while Heartbeats is listed as single-player only.
- Does NIDUS run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — NIDUS is rated Deck Playable by Valve. Heartbeats doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.