Choose Solar Shifter EX
Choose Solar Shifter EX if it's currently about 67% cheaper on the Steam Store. Solar Shifter EX launched in 2015.
Solar Shifter EX vs DRAINUS
Solar Shifter EX and DRAINUS 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. Solar Shifter EX (2015) is 7 years older than DRAINUS (2022). DRAINUS scores higher on Steam reviews (95.9% positive) than Solar Shifter EX (42.9% 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 DRAINUS
Choose DRAINUS if it's the newer release (2022) and ships with the modern feature baseline. DRAINUS launched in 2022.
Both Solar Shifter EX and DRAINUS sit in Action and Indie 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
 Solar Shifter EX |  DRAINUS | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2015 | 2022 |
| Genres | Action, Indie | Action, Indie |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Deck Verified |
| Price | 4.99 USD | 14.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 42.9% positive (21 reviews) | 95.9% positive (563 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Elder Games | Team Ladybug, WSS playground |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie on Steam.
- Solar Shifter EX (2015) is 7 years older than DRAINUS (2022).
- DRAINUS scores higher on Steam reviews (95.9% positive) than Solar Shifter EX (42.9% positive).
- Solar Shifter EX is currently ~67% cheaper on Steam than DRAINUS (4.99 USD vs. 14.99 USD).
- DRAINUS is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Solar Shifter EX has no Deck rating yet.
Solar Shifter EX vs DRAINUS — FAQ
- Should I play Solar Shifter EX or DRAINUS first?
- If you want chronology, Solar Shifter EX (2015) came out before DRAINUS (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 Solar Shifter EX and DRAINUS 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.