Choose Bloons TD 5
Choose Bloons TD 5 if you want the Steam Leaderboards side of the pairing. 7,361 Steam reviews back the pick.
Bloons TD 5 vs 17.waves TD
Bloons TD 5 and 17.waves TD both land in Action, Strategy 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, Strategy on Steam. Bloons TD 5 (2014) is 12 years older than 17.waves TD (2026). Bloons TD 5 scores higher on Steam reviews (94.9% positive) than 17.waves TD (90% 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 17.waves TD
Choose 17.waves TD if you want the Custom Volume Controls, Playable without Timed Input, and Keyboard Only Option side of the pairing. On Steam, it's currently about 44% cheaper on the Steam Store. 17.waves TD launched in 2026.
Both Bloons TD 5 and 17.waves TD sit in Action and Strategy on Steam and both list Multi-player, Online Co-op, and 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
 Bloons TD 5 |  17.waves TD | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2014 | 2026 |
| Genres | Action, Strategy | Action, Strategy |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | 9.99 USD | 5.59 USD |
| Steam reviews | 94.9% positive (7,361 reviews) | 90% positive (20 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | Ninja Kiwi | Peartree Games |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Strategy on Steam.
- Bloons TD 5 (2014) is 12 years older than 17.waves TD (2026).
- Bloons TD 5 scores higher on Steam reviews (94.9% positive) than 17.waves TD (90% positive).
- 17.waves TD is currently ~44% cheaper on Steam than Bloons TD 5 (5.59 USD vs. 9.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
- Bloons TD 5 is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; 17.waves TD has no Deck rating yet.
Bloons TD 5 vs 17.waves TD — FAQ
- Should I play Bloons TD 5 or 17.waves TD first?
- If you want chronology, Bloons TD 5 (2014) came out before 17.waves TD (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 Bloons TD 5 and 17.waves TD similar?
- They overlap on Action, Strategy 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 Bloons TD 5 and 17.waves TD have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: Bloons TD 5 ships Online Co-op, Co-op; 17.waves TD ships Online Co-op, Co-op.
- Does Bloons TD 5 run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Bloons TD 5 is rated Deck Playable by Valve. 17.waves TD doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.