Choose Star Control I and II
Choose Star Control I and II if it's currently about 33% cheaper on the Steam Store. Star Control I and II launched in 2017.
Star Control I and II vs Shaped Beats
Star Control I and II and Shaped Beats both land in Action, Strategy, 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, Strategy, Indie on Steam. Star Control I and II (2017) is 5 years older than Shaped Beats (2022). Star Control I and II is currently ~33% cheaper on Steam than Shaped Beats (3.99 USD vs. 5.99 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 Shaped Beats
Choose Shaped Beats if you want a Simulation experience. On Steam, it's the newer release (2022) and ships with the modern feature baseline. Shaped Beats launched in 2022.
Both Star Control I and II and Shaped Beats sit in Action, Strategy, and Indie on Steam and both list Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen, and Shared/Split Screen PvP, 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
 Star Control I and II |  Shaped Beats | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2017 | 2022 |
| Genres | Action, Strategy, Indie, Adventure | Action, Strategy, Indie, Adventure, Simulation |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Unrated |
| Price | 3.99 USD | 5.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 80.7% positive (140 reviews) | — |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player | Multi-player |
| Developers | Toys for Bob | GameWorks Studio Latam |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Strategy, Indie on Steam.
- Star Control I and II (2017) is 5 years older than Shaped Beats (2022).
- Star Control I and II is currently ~33% cheaper on Steam than Shaped Beats (3.99 USD vs. 5.99 USD).
Star Control I and II vs Shaped Beats — FAQ
- Should I play Star Control I and II or Shaped Beats first?
- If you want chronology, Star Control I and II (2017) came out before Shaped Beats (2022). 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 Star Control I and II and Shaped Beats similar?
- They overlap on Action, Strategy, 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.