Choose Dark Scrolls
Choose Dark Scrolls if you want the Online Co-op, Custom Volume Controls, and Playable without Timed Input side of the pairing. Dark Scrolls launched in 2026.
Dark Scrolls vs Shard Squad
Dark Scrolls and Shard Squad both land in Action, Indie, 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, Indie, Adventure on Steam. Shard Squad (2025) is 1 year older than Dark Scrolls (2026). Shard Squad scores higher on Steam reviews (84.2% positive) than Dark Scrolls (63.1% 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 Shard Squad
Choose Shard Squad if you want a Casual experience. On Steam, it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 84.2% positive across 101 reviews.
Both Dark Scrolls and Shard Squad sit in Action, Indie, 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
 Dark Scrolls |  Shard Squad | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2026 | 2025 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Adventure | Action, Indie, Adventure, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Deck Playable |
| Price | 9.99 USD | 6.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 63.1% positive (149 reviews) | 84.2% positive (101 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Shared/Split Screen Co-op | Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | doinksoft | The Root Studios |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie, Adventure on Steam.
- Shard Squad (2025) is 1 year older than Dark Scrolls (2026).
- Shard Squad scores higher on Steam reviews (84.2% positive) than Dark Scrolls (63.1% positive).
- Shard Squad is currently ~30% cheaper on Steam than Dark Scrolls (6.99 USD vs. 9.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
- Both are Deck Playable.
Dark Scrolls vs Shard Squad — FAQ
- Which is better, Dark Scrolls or Shard Squad?
- On Steam reviews Shard Squad scores higher (84.2% positive) than Dark Scrolls (63.1% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, Shard Squad 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 Scrolls or Shard Squad first?
- If you want chronology, Shard Squad (2025) came out before Dark Scrolls (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 Dark Scrolls and Shard Squad similar?
- They overlap on Action, Indie, 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 Dark Scrolls and Shard Squad have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: Dark Scrolls ships Online Co-op, Shared/Split Screen Co-op; Shard Squad ships Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op.