Choose Cuphead
Choose Cuphead if you want an Action game with Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen, and Shared/Split Screen Co-op. On Steam, it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. 62,740 Steam reviews back the pick.
Cuphead vs SHELL
Cuphead and SHELL both land in 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 are Indie games on Steam. Cuphead (2017) is 1 year older than SHELL (2018). SHELL is currently ~95% cheaper on Steam than Cuphead (0.99 USD vs. 19.99 USD). 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 SHELL
Choose SHELL if it's currently about 95% cheaper on the Steam Store. SHELL launched in 2018.
Both Cuphead and SHELL sit in 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
 Cuphead |  SHELL | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2017 | 2018 |
| Genres | Action, Indie | Indie |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Unrated |
| Price | 19.99 USD | 0.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 96.2% positive (62,740 reviews) | 5 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op | Single-player only |
| Developers | Studio MDHR Entertainment Inc. | Kings of the Heroes |
Side by side
- Both are Indie games on Steam.
- Cuphead (2017) is 1 year older than SHELL (2018).
- SHELL is currently ~95% cheaper on Steam than Cuphead (0.99 USD vs. 19.99 USD).
- Cuphead has co-op; SHELL does not.
- Cuphead is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; SHELL has no Deck rating yet.
Cuphead vs SHELL — FAQ
- Should I play Cuphead or SHELL first?
- If you want chronology, Cuphead (2017) came out before SHELL (2018). 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 SHELL similar?
- They overlap on 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 SHELL have multiplayer like Cuphead?
- No. Cuphead supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op), while SHELL is listed as single-player only.
- Does Cuphead run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Cuphead is rated Deck Verified by Valve. SHELL doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.