Choose Cuphead
Choose Cuphead if it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. 62,740 Steam reviews back the pick.
Cuphead vs Knockout Battle
Cuphead and Knockout Battle 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. Cuphead (2017) is 9 years older than Knockout Battle (2026). Cuphead scores higher on Steam reviews (96.2% positive) than Knockout Battle (77.1% 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 Knockout Battle
Choose Knockout Battle if you want a Simulation and Casual game with Online PvP, Shared/Split Screen PvP, and Online Co-op. On Steam, it's currently about 80% cheaper on the Steam Store. Knockout Battle launched in 2026.
Both Cuphead and Knockout Battle sit in Action and Indie 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
 Cuphead |  Knockout Battle | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2017 | 2026 |
| Genres | Action, Indie | Action, Indie, Simulation, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Unrated |
| Price | 19.99 USD | 3.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 96.2% positive (62,740 reviews) | 77.1% positive (35 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Shared/Split Screen Co-op |
| Developers | Studio MDHR Entertainment Inc. | Dani Tikka Masala, Alvin Leon Dobric, Anton Ploetner |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie on Steam.
- Cuphead (2017) is 9 years older than Knockout Battle (2026).
- Cuphead scores higher on Steam reviews (96.2% positive) than Knockout Battle (77.1% positive).
- Knockout Battle is currently ~80% cheaper on Steam than Cuphead (3.99 USD vs. 19.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
- Cuphead is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Knockout Battle has no Deck rating yet.
Cuphead vs Knockout Battle — FAQ
- Should I play Cuphead or Knockout Battle first?
- If you want chronology, Cuphead (2017) came out before Knockout Battle (2026). 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 Cuphead and Knockout Battle 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 Cuphead and Knockout Battle have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: Cuphead ships Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op; Knockout Battle ships Online Co-op, Shared/Split Screen Co-op.
- Does Cuphead run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Cuphead is rated Deck Verified by Valve. Knockout Battle doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.