Choose TowerFall Ascension
Choose TowerFall Ascension if you want the Shared/Split Screen side of the pairing. 1,738 Steam reviews back the pick.
TowerFall Ascension vs Shovel Knight Showdown
TowerFall Ascension and Shovel Knight Showdown 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. TowerFall Ascension (2014) is 5 years older than Shovel Knight Showdown (2019). TowerFall Ascension scores higher on Steam reviews (94.6% positive) than Shovel Knight Showdown (87% 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 Shovel Knight Showdown
Choose Shovel Knight Showdown if you want an Adventure experience. On Steam, it's currently about 33% cheaper on the Steam Store. Shovel Knight Showdown launched in 2019.
Both TowerFall Ascension and Shovel Knight Showdown sit in Action and Indie on Steam and both list Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen PvP, 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
 TowerFall Ascension |  Shovel Knight Showdown | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2014 | 2019 |
| Genres | Action, Indie | Action, Indie, Adventure |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Deck Verified |
| Price | 14.99 USD | 9.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 94.6% positive (1,738 reviews) | 87% positive (46 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op | Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | Maddy Makes Games Inc., Extremely OK Games, Ltd. | Yacht Club Games |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie on Steam.
- TowerFall Ascension (2014) is 5 years older than Shovel Knight Showdown (2019).
- TowerFall Ascension scores higher on Steam reviews (94.6% positive) than Shovel Knight Showdown (87% positive).
- Shovel Knight Showdown is currently ~33% cheaper on Steam than TowerFall Ascension (9.99 USD vs. 14.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
- Steam Deck: TowerFall Ascension is Deck Playable, Shovel Knight Showdown is Deck Verified.
TowerFall Ascension vs Shovel Knight Showdown — FAQ
- Should I play TowerFall Ascension or Shovel Knight Showdown first?
- If you want chronology, TowerFall Ascension (2014) came out before Shovel Knight Showdown (2019). 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 TowerFall Ascension and Shovel Knight Showdown 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.
- Do both TowerFall Ascension and Shovel Knight Showdown have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: TowerFall Ascension ships Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op; Shovel Knight Showdown ships Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op.