Choose Shwip
Choose Shwip if you want a Casual experience. On Steam, it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. Shwip launched in 2021.
Shwip vs Retromancer
Shwip and Retromancer both land in Action, 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 share Action, Indie on Steam. Retromancer (2019) is 2 years older than Shwip (2021). Retromancer is currently ~40% cheaper on Steam than Shwip (2.99 USD vs. 4.99 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 Retromancer
Choose Retromancer if it's currently about 40% cheaper on the Steam Store. Retromancer launched in 2019.
Both Shwip and Retromancer sit in Action and Indie on Steam and both list Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen, and Steam Leaderboards, 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
 Shwip |  Retromancer | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2021 | 2019 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Casual | Action, Indie |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Windows, macOS |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Unrated |
| Price | 4.99 USD | 2.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 2 reviews | 2 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op | Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | Jamhammer Games Inc. | Spinfoam Games |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie on Steam.
- Retromancer (2019) is 2 years older than Shwip (2021).
- Retromancer is currently ~40% cheaper on Steam than Shwip (2.99 USD vs. 4.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
- Shwip is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Retromancer has no Deck rating yet.
Shwip vs Retromancer — FAQ
- Should I play Shwip or Retromancer first?
- If you want chronology, Retromancer (2019) came out before Shwip (2021). 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 Shwip and Retromancer similar?
- They overlap on Action, 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.
- Do both Shwip and Retromancer have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: Shwip ships Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op; Retromancer ships Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op.
- Does Shwip run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Shwip is rated Deck Verified by Valve. Retromancer doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.