Choose Shift Happens
Choose Shift Happens if you want an Action and Indie game with Online PvP, Shared/Split Screen PvP, and PvP. On Steam, it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. Shift Happens launched in 2017.
Shift Happens vs Balloon Friends
Shift Happens and Balloon Friends sit side-by-side in player discussions even though their catalogue tags only partly overlap. 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: Shift Happens (2017) is 8 years older than Balloon Friends (2025). Balloon Friends is currently ~69% cheaper on Steam than Shift Happens (4.99 USD vs. 15.99 USD). Both support cooperative play. 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 Balloon Friends
Choose Balloon Friends if you want a Casual experience. On Steam, it's currently about 69% cheaper on the Steam Store. Balloon Friends launched in 2025.
Both Shift Happens and Balloon Friends ship Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen, and Online Co-op on Steam, so either pick lands close enough that the choice is taste, not category. 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
 Shift Happens |  Balloon Friends | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2017 | 2025 |
| Genres | Action, Indie | Casual |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Unrated |
| Price | 15.99 USD | 4.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 77% positive (670 reviews) | 1 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Shared/Split Screen Co-op | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Shared/Split Screen Co-op |
| Developers | Klonk Games | UniTemp恒温 |
Side by side
- Shift Happens (2017) is 8 years older than Balloon Friends (2025).
- Balloon Friends is currently ~69% cheaper on Steam than Shift Happens (4.99 USD vs. 15.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
- Shift Happens is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Balloon Friends has no Deck rating yet.
Shift Happens vs Balloon Friends — FAQ
- Should I play Shift Happens or Balloon Friends first?
- If you want chronology, Shift Happens (2017) came out before Balloon Friends (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.
- Do both Shift Happens and Balloon Friends have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: Shift Happens ships Online Co-op, Shared/Split Screen Co-op; Balloon Friends ships Online Co-op, Shared/Split Screen Co-op.
- Does Shift Happens run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Shift Happens is rated Deck Verified by Valve. Balloon Friends doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.