Choose Dark Matter
Choose Dark Matter if it's currently about 50% cheaper on the Steam Store. Dark Matter launched in 2013.
Dark Matter vs Shantae: Half-Genie Hero
Dark Matter and Shantae: Half-Genie Hero 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. Dark Matter (2013) is 3 years older than Shantae: Half-Genie Hero (2016). Shantae: Half-Genie Hero scores higher on Steam reviews (89.6% positive) than Dark Matter (44.6% 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 Shantae: Half-Genie Hero
Choose Shantae: Half-Genie Hero if you want an Adventure experience. On Steam, it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 89.6% positive across 1,126 reviews.
Both Dark Matter and Shantae: Half-Genie Hero sit in Action and Indie 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
 Dark Matter |  Shantae: Half-Genie Hero | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2013 | 2016 |
| Genres | Action, Indie | Action, Indie, Adventure |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Deck Verified |
| Price | 9.99 USD | 19.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 44.6% positive (148 reviews) | 89.6% positive (1,126 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | InterWave Studios | WayForward |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie on Steam.
- Dark Matter (2013) is 3 years older than Shantae: Half-Genie Hero (2016).
- Shantae: Half-Genie Hero scores higher on Steam reviews (89.6% positive) than Dark Matter (44.6% positive).
- Dark Matter is currently ~50% cheaper on Steam than Shantae: Half-Genie Hero (9.99 USD vs. 19.99 USD).
- Steam Deck: Dark Matter is Deck Playable, Shantae: Half-Genie Hero is Deck Verified.
Dark Matter vs Shantae: Half-Genie Hero — FAQ
- Which is better, Dark Matter or Shantae: Half-Genie Hero?
- On Steam reviews Shantae: Half-Genie Hero scores higher (89.6% positive) than Dark Matter (44.6% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, Shantae: Half-Genie Hero is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.
- Should I play Dark Matter or Shantae: Half-Genie Hero first?
- If you want chronology, Dark Matter (2013) came out before Shantae: Half-Genie Hero (2016). 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 Dark Matter and Shantae: Half-Genie Hero 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.