Choose Hammerwatch
Choose Hammerwatch if you want an Indie and RPG game with Online Co-op. On Steam, it's currently about 67% cheaper on the Steam Store. 2,468 Steam reviews back the pick.
Hammerwatch vs Battle Axe
Hammerwatch and Battle Axe both land in Action, Adventure 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, Adventure on Steam. Hammerwatch (2013) is 8 years older than Battle Axe (2021). Hammerwatch scores higher on Steam reviews (87.8% positive) than Battle Axe (61.8% 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 Battle Axe
Choose Battle Axe if it's the newer release (2021) and ships with the modern feature baseline. Battle Axe launched in 2021.
Both Hammerwatch and Battle Axe sit in Action and Adventure on Steam and both list Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen, and Shared/Split Screen Co-op, 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
 Hammerwatch |  Battle Axe | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2013 | 2021 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Adventure, RPG | Action, Adventure |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Deck Verified |
| Price | 9.99 USD | 29.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 87.8% positive (2,468 reviews) | 61.8% positive (55 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Shared/Split Screen Co-op | Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | Crackshell | Bitmap Bureau |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Adventure on Steam.
- Hammerwatch (2013) is 8 years older than Battle Axe (2021).
- Hammerwatch scores higher on Steam reviews (87.8% positive) than Battle Axe (61.8% positive).
- Hammerwatch is currently ~67% cheaper on Steam than Battle Axe (9.99 USD vs. 29.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
- Steam Deck: Hammerwatch is Deck Playable, Battle Axe is Deck Verified.
Hammerwatch vs Battle Axe — FAQ
- Should I play Hammerwatch or Battle Axe first?
- If you want chronology, Hammerwatch (2013) came out before Battle Axe (2021). 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 Hammerwatch and Battle Axe similar?
- They overlap on Action, Adventure 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.
- Do both Hammerwatch and Battle Axe have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: Hammerwatch ships Online Co-op, Shared/Split Screen Co-op; Battle Axe ships Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op.