Choose Shadow Warrior 2
Choose Shadow Warrior 2 if you want an Adventure game with Multi-player, Online Co-op, and Co-op. On Steam, it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. 8,672 Steam reviews back the pick.
Shadow Warrior 2 vs Lightning Katana
Shadow Warrior 2 and Lightning Katana both land in Action 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 Action games on Steam. Shadow Warrior 2 (2016) is 9 years older than Lightning Katana (2025). Lightning Katana scores higher on Steam reviews (100% positive) than Shadow Warrior 2 (87.3% 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 Lightning Katana
Choose Lightning Katana if you want an Indie experience. On Steam, it's currently about 73% cheaper on the Steam Store. Lightning Katana launched in 2025.
Both Shadow Warrior 2 and Lightning Katana sit in Action 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
 Shadow Warrior 2 |  Lightning Katana | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2016 | 2025 |
| Genres | Action, Adventure | Action, Indie |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Unrated |
| Price | 29.99 USD | 7.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 87.3% positive (8,672 reviews) | 100% positive (12 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op | Single-player only |
| Developers | Flying Wild Hog | Juicy Pulp Games |
Side by side
- Both are Action games on Steam.
- Shadow Warrior 2 (2016) is 9 years older than Lightning Katana (2025).
- Lightning Katana scores higher on Steam reviews (100% positive) than Shadow Warrior 2 (87.3% positive).
- Lightning Katana is currently ~73% cheaper on Steam than Shadow Warrior 2 (7.99 USD vs. 29.99 USD).
- Shadow Warrior 2 has co-op; Lightning Katana does not.
- Shadow Warrior 2 is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Lightning Katana has no Deck rating yet.
Shadow Warrior 2 vs Lightning Katana — FAQ
- Should I play Shadow Warrior 2 or Lightning Katana first?
- If you want chronology, Shadow Warrior 2 (2016) came out before Lightning Katana (2025). 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 Shadow Warrior 2 and Lightning Katana similar?
- They overlap on Action 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 Lightning Katana have multiplayer like Shadow Warrior 2?
- No. Shadow Warrior 2 supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op), while Lightning Katana is listed as single-player only.
- Does Shadow Warrior 2 run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Shadow Warrior 2 is rated Deck Verified by Valve. Lightning Katana doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.