Choose Shard Squad
Choose Shard Squad if you want the Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen, and Shared/Split Screen Co-op side of the pairing. On Steam, it has co-op, so you can bring a friend. Shard Squad launched in 2025.
Shard Squad vs Gem Beasts
Shard Squad and Gem Beasts 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 Gem Beasts (2026). Shard Squad has co-op; Gem Beasts does not. 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 Gem Beasts
Choose Gem Beasts if you want the DualShock Controller Support side of the pairing. On Steam, it's a focused single-player run rather than a multiplayer commitment. Gem Beasts launched in 2026.
Both Shard Squad and Gem Beasts sit in Action, Indie, and Adventure 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
 Shard Squad |  Gem Beasts | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2025 | 2026 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Adventure, Casual | Action, Indie, Adventure, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | 6.99 USD | Price unknown |
| Steam reviews | 84.2% positive (101 reviews) | — |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op | Single-player only |
| Developers | The Root Studios | Fablesprite Games |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie, Adventure on Steam.
- Shard Squad (2025) is 1 year older than Gem Beasts (2026).
- Shard Squad has co-op; Gem Beasts does not.
- Shard Squad is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; Gem Beasts has no Deck rating yet.
Shard Squad vs Gem Beasts — FAQ
- Should I play Shard Squad or Gem Beasts first?
- If you want chronology, Shard Squad (2025) came out before Gem Beasts (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 Shard Squad and Gem Beasts 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.
- Does Gem Beasts have multiplayer like Shard Squad?
- No. Shard Squad supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op), while Gem Beasts is listed as single-player only.
- Does Shard Squad run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Shard Squad is rated Deck Playable by Valve. Gem Beasts doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.