Choose Wayward
Choose Wayward if you want a Simulation and Early Access game with LAN PvP, LAN Co-op, and Adjustable Text Size. Wayward launched in 2016.
Wayward vs Shards of Azuria
Wayward and Shards of Azuria both land in Indie, Adventure, RPG 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 Indie, Adventure, RPG on Steam. Wayward (2016) is 3 years older than Shards of Azuria (2019). Wayward scores higher on Steam reviews (86.7% positive) than Shards of Azuria (59.7% 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 Shards of Azuria
Choose Shards of Azuria if you want an Action experience. On Steam, it's the newer release (2019) and ships with the modern feature baseline. Shards of Azuria launched in 2019.
Both Wayward and Shards of Azuria sit in Indie, Adventure, and RPG on Steam and both list Multi-player, Online PvP, and Online Co-op, 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
 Wayward |  Shards of Azuria | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2016 | 2019 |
| Genres | Indie, Adventure, Simulation, RPG, Early Access | Action, Indie, Adventure, RPG |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | 7.99 USD | 7.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 86.7% positive (890 reviews) | 59.7% positive (62 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | Unlok | Blue Potion Games |
Side by side
- Both share Indie, Adventure, RPG on Steam.
- Wayward (2016) is 3 years older than Shards of Azuria (2019).
- Wayward scores higher on Steam reviews (86.7% positive) than Shards of Azuria (59.7% positive).
- Shards of Azuria is currently ~0% cheaper on Steam than Wayward (7.99 USD vs. 7.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
- Wayward is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; Shards of Azuria has no Deck rating yet.
Wayward vs Shards of Azuria — FAQ
- Should I play Wayward or Shards of Azuria first?
- If you want chronology, Wayward (2016) came out before Shards of Azuria (2019). 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 Wayward and Shards of Azuria similar?
- They overlap on Indie, Adventure, RPG 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 Wayward and Shards of Azuria have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: Wayward ships Online Co-op, LAN Co-op; Shards of Azuria ships Online Co-op, Co-op.
- Does Wayward run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Wayward is rated Deck Playable by Valve. Shards of Azuria doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.